Bunker Spill Ship Wreck No Longer Considered a Hazard

While some oil still remains on the sunken MV Rena, officials say the vessel is no longer classified as a hazard.

While some bunkers still remains on the sunken MV Rena, officials say the vessel is no longer a hazard, having also removed the wrecked ship's classification as a hazard to navigation, local media reports.

The cargo ship, which ran aground on the Astrolabe Reef near the port of Tauranga, New Zealand on October 5, 2011, was carrying 1,368 containers, eight of which contained hazardous materials, and 1,700 tonnes of heavy fuel oil (HFO), as well as 200 tonnes of marine diesel fuel before it sank.

"Significant effort has gone into salvage and safe removal of harmful substances," said Keith Manch, Director of Maritime NZ, calling the classification change a milestone the response process.

"While some oil remains trapped in the wreckage of the vessel, most of the harmful substances contained within the ship have been discharged into the sea and have either been removed or have been, and will continue to be, monitored under the plan provided for under the resource consent."

In light of the news, the Bay of Plenty Harbour Master is also said to have amended the exclusion zone around the sunken vessel, allowing vessels under 500 tonnes into the area, effective at 8 a.m. on April 5, 2016.

The vessel's owners had been required to address both the navigational hazard and discharge of harmful substances resulting from the vessel's grounding, keeping Maritime NZ abreast of related progress.

"The information and evidence available to me indicates that all reasonable efforts have been made to remove entanglement hazards and wreckage, where possible. I have concluded that the wreck and remaining debris on the sea floor no longer constitute a hazard to navigation," said Manch.

As Ship & Bunker reported three years ago, it was expected that about one or two tonnes of HFO would leach from the MV Rena over time, although the ship's owners and insurers said it would be best to leave what was left of the ship in place.