Asia/Pacific News
Bunkering Continuing At Tauranga While Pipeline Stays Closed
Mobil Oil says bunkering is being "accommodated" in Tauranga Harbour, New Zealand, but a bunker pipeline remains closed nearly two months after it was identified as the source of a fuel spill, local media reports.
The news comes less than four weeks after it said bunkering had been suspended and did not expect main wharf bunkering to be operational "for several weeks".
It was estimated that 1.5 tonnes of oil leaked from a hole in a bunker line while Mobil was refueling a ship in late April.
"We have been working very closely with our customers and continue to accommodate bunkering at the tanker berth as best we can," said Mobil Oil in a statement.
"The bunker pipeline to the main wharf remains shutdown."
According to Mobil, an investigation into the cause of the spill is still underway, though said that it "is too early to comment further."
"We are working on a plan to reinstate the bunker pipeline, which will not be used until we have full confidence in its integrity," the company said.
"Unfortunately this is taking time, and we do not expect it to be operational for several weeks yet."
In April Mobil issued a public apology for the incident in addition to setting up a claims process for damages stemming directly from the spill.
