Tauranga oil spill

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#532752 13-Oct-2011 11:17

"Wayne Mills, Chairman of Seafuels and General Manager Multi-Cargo and Marine at Ports of Auckland, said Z Energy had agreed to release the Awanuia from its time charter in order to facilitate the tanker's participation in the salvage operation.

"We are happy to provide whatever assistance we can," Mr Mills said.

The Awanuia departed Auckland on Friday (7th) afternoon and has proceeded to Marsden Point to discharge her current load and create room for the fuel from the Rena. She will depart Marsden Point at 1 pm today (Sat 8th) and is expected to arrive at the Rena on Sunday morning."

There does appear to be a delay in sending the Awanuia however on the radio this morning Nick Smith was saying that due to the work that needed to be done on the Rena pipes it wasn't possible to tranfer oil any earlier.

oxnsox

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#532770 13-Oct-2011 11:36

Most of the public disappointment in regards to the response is, I believe, through poor media reporting on the whole issue.

Ships don't move at high speeds but our minds do. Simply to get a vessel like the Awanui on-site would have taken not just the steaming time to go into Whangarei to unload, but also the 24hours (or more) that it would have taken to offload it's own fuel cargo.

So whilst we (the public) didn't see it appear for a number of days, I very much doubt it was thru lack of any plan. Meantime the media are focusing on the lack of anything visible.

Last evening on Closeup a sea Captain explained with the aid of a simple foam block how the hull structure would be flexing to cause the obvious fractures now visible. From the moment Rena ran aground any competent seafarer was aware that this would be the outcome for the vessel, unless a substantial period of calm weather allowed the vessel load (containers and fuel) to be managed (adjusted and removed) in such a way as to allow the vessel the chance of being dragged off.

Why the media have taken a week to consult with people who can articulate that is simply poor journalism. Instead they focus on sensationalizing the event as if with a pinch of salt, and a dose of parachuted in experts, it'll all be over before the weekend. They're feeding peoples expectations for a solution that was never possible, rather than informing them from the outset that Rena would be a focus of their communities for months and probably have a long term impact on their lifestyles.

TheUngeek

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#532776 13-Oct-2011 11:43

Well said oxnsox

John2010

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#532838 13-Oct-2011 13:32

Linuxluver:
gzt: Really interesting points about the technical aspects of the recovery. Any idea which disperants they are using?

John2010: Certainly idiotic those who claim the government are better at running the salvage than the salvors and insurers who do it all the time. One has to wonder if the Greens and Labour have even a microgram of business and management sense in their heads.

I have not seen anybody here claiming that.

The perception of many people onshore (including me) is that the response has been slow. And with the media initially talking about owners and insurers assessing the situation before seeing any action, many are suspecting the speed of the initial response was dictated by the speed of wheels turning in a corporate bureaucracy - with the responsible government agencies (MNZ I guess) largely taking a 'wait and see' position on the outcome initially when they could have been more proactive.

That said it looks like things are in full gear at the moment. The main concerns are around the speed and co-ordination of the initial response.

[Edit: Followed by NZ's capacity and capability to deal with larger events of this nature]

+1

In absolute terms, the response has been slow. Expoert or not, there can't really be any debate about that. The ship was stuck on the reef, in clear, clam weather for days before anything useful happened.

The capability to respond does not - and did not - not match the requirement. That is obvious to anyone who understands the oil needed to be removed before the ship broke up...and time was of the eseence there.

Clearly you know more about what work did or did not have to be done on the ship before oil removal could begin. You seem to be claiming from that knowledge of this that there was no issue on the ship which was an impediment to immediate oil removal. So from that would you set out in sufficient detail to allow us to understand your claim -

Have you had access to the results of the initial damage survey and detailed salvage plan?

Would you set out for us, as the following applied in the initial days the damage and flooding status of the vessel's hull, the extent of damage to machinery necessary for moving the oil in the vessel (heaters, generators, etc), the status of the fuel tanks (capacities, fill in each and their damage status), status of the related pipework, and the status of the bilges particularly the status of any damage to the duct bilge.

I assume there are other things regarding the readiness of the vessel for oil removal that from our limited perspective we don't understand - would you elaborate on those too?

Thank you.

John2010

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#532849 13-Oct-2011 13:52

TheUngeek: Well said oxnsox

Ditto.

The media have been absolutely abysmal, though that pretty much par for the course. They have been given really good media releases and a few minutes research would give them more facts, but they have done nothing to make use of them.

I never normally listen to Nine to Noon on National Radio but thought I would give it a try this morning in case anything useful said. But Kathryn Ryan was like her usual dim witted loose schoolgirl self. Anyway, gave up after a while as nothing of factual importance being said at all. Don't think I will bother with giving Checkpoint a try as PMT Mary is worse.

sbiddle

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#532853 13-Oct-2011 13:56

John2010:
Would you set out for us, as the following applied in the initial days the damage and flooding status of the vessel's hull, the extent of damage to machinery necessary for moving the oil in the vessel (heaters, generators, etc), the status of the fuel tanks (capacities, fill in each and their damage status), status of the related pipework, and the status of the bilges particularly the status of any damage to the duct bilge.

I assume there are other things regarding the readiness of the vessel for oil removal that from our limited perspective we don't understand - would you elaborate on those too?

Thank you.

You've raised some very valid issues that while they are known in the industry, don't seem to be getting a lot of media attention.

Most people can't seem to comprehend that taking the oil off isn't quite like siphoning a car. The oil is virtually solid in the cold environment and needs to be heated before it can be pumped. From several reports today it had to be pumped through areas of the ship that had suffered damage.

Klipspringer

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#532897 13-Oct-2011 15:16

Anybody watching the rugby this weekend?

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

Byrned

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#532901 13-Oct-2011 15:25

oxnsox: Most of the public disappointment in regards to the response is, I believe, through poor media reporting on the whole issue.

Agree with everything that you have said on this.

So, with this in mind, and I think everyone pretty much in general agreement, the media have been guilty of sensationalising the issue, or not getting facts right before reporting. Who does one complain to? After all, surely with any reporting the media is in a position of responsibility, and at the very least have a duty of care to ensure that facts are are right. You could even go so far as to say that they are scaremongering to profiteer.

On another note, I can't recall which show it was, but someone interviewing a "local" who had rescued a bird from the oil, had oil all over there hands and feet. This well after it had been advised to everyone to stay away and that contact with the oil was dangerous and toxic. Another bit of irresponsible reporting.

allan

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#532921 13-Oct-2011 15:46

Byrned:
On another note, I can't recall which show it was, but someone interviewing a "local" who had rescued a bird from the oil, had oil all over there hands and feet. This well after it had been advised to everyone to stay away and that contact with the oil was dangerous and toxic. Another bit of irresponsible reporting.

Not to mention the woman who was shown repeatedly on TNVZ news last night saying in a distressed sounding voice - "everyone who has been helping with the cleanup is getting sick".

Well gee, I guess that's why you are being warned to stay away from the beach then.....

Byrned

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#532970 13-Oct-2011 16:42

allan: [Not to mention the woman who was shown repeatedly on TNVZ news last night saying in a distressed sounding voice - "everyone who has been helping with the cleanup is getting sick".

Well gee, I guess that's why you are being warned to stay away from the beach then.....

No no no. We need to encourage people like that - darwinism at its finest!

mattwnz

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#532980 13-Oct-2011 16:48

allan:
Byrned:?
On another note, I can't recall which show it was, but someone interviewing a "local" who had?rescued?a bird from the oil, had oil all over there hands and feet. This well after it had been advised to everyone to stay away and that contact with the oil was dangerous and toxic. Another bit of irresponsible reporting.
Not to mention the woman who was shown repeatedly on TNVZ news last night saying in a distressed sounding voice - "everyone who has been helping with the cleanup is getting sick".

Well gee, I guess that's why you are being warned to stay away from the beach then.....

Yes, I can't understand why there haven't been health warnings, to stop people going down there. This isn't just oil, it also has chemicals in it which are used to make it more solid, so it doesn't slop around in the ship. That is why the experts are all covered up. Seeing people in shorts and jandels picking up oil with their hands was not good. They are going to need lots of machinery to fix this, and I expect to see a lot of the sand removed. Just wonder where it is going to be sent to?

mattwnz

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#532982 13-Oct-2011 16:48

Byrned:
allan: [Not to mention the woman who was shown repeatedly on TNVZ news last night saying in a distressed sounding voice - "everyone who has been helping with the cleanup is getting sick".

Well gee, I guess that's why you are being warned to stay away from the beach then.....

No no no. We need to encourage people like that - darwinism at its finest!?

But it will end up costing taxpayers in health costs.

Byrned

455 posts

Ultimate Geek

#532986 13-Oct-2011 16:52

mattwnz:
Byrned:
allan: [Not to mention the woman who was shown repeatedly on TNVZ news last night saying in a distressed sounding voice - "everyone who has been helping with the cleanup is getting sick".

Well gee, I guess that's why you are being warned to stay away from the beach then.....

No no no. We need to encourage people like that - darwinism at its finest!?

But it will end up costing taxpayers in health costs.

Can't we just float them out to sea with the beached whales??

And sorry in advance for any whales I have offended with this comment.

Byrned

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#532987 13-Oct-2011 16:54

BraaiGuy: Anybody watching the rugby this weekend?

Yep, although I'm wondering if the skipper is going to use it as a legal defense that he just wanted to paint the sea and beach black in support of the AB's.

davemc

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#533002 13-Oct-2011 17:19

The wildlife recovery centre is very impressive. Lots and lots of people, marquees, tanks. A new temporary laneway being built. High security for the animals benefit, even most of the people working in the centre aren't allowed to visit the rehabilitating animals, so as not to stress them further.   Lots of DoC people and resources and equipment. They seem well organised.

D6 dozer came to Ocean Beach this morning.   Good crew from Higgins Contractors. Stroppies in wetsuits from NZ Stevedoring Co with very big chains. In short order they had separated two containers, one being the almost full but split beef patty 40ft, the other 1/5th of an empty shell remnant refrigerated container. They pushed the wrecked one out of the surf, above the high tide mark. A crowd of more than a thousand people gathered to watch. D6 hooked up to container in the surf on the outgoing tide. Then everything stopped. Awaiting documentation apparently.

We went away to look at other spots, came back 6 hours later to find everything still stopped. Now apparently waiting for a safety plan. The well trained crew were using safe work practices, nothing ooooh or aaaah was happening.   Crew withdrew the D6 and chains to the edge of the road. D8 and 21 tonne excavator from J Swap & Co remain on their transporters on the road, where they had been since this morning.

The plan was to drag the other three containers from further down the beach to this spot, so as to only damage one piece of dunes getting containers across. Hasn't happened, and the high tide won't wait for safety documentation.

A beautiful new 300 tonne crane from Pollock appeared at Pilot Bay at the boat ramp, along with 3 ballast trucks and 3 container trucks, ready to lift the floating containers away from tugs. Starting rigging the ballast, half way done when worked stopped. Pack it all back up, and go back to the yard on standby. No tugs arrived with containers, but they could be seen off the main beach, mostly heading the wrong way, or not moving, but hooked to containers on towlines. Wrong tide apparently.

The crane was also to setup at the main beach to lift the sandy containers onto trucks, but no setup started yet.

The captain of Rena has been whisked out of Tauranga for his own protection.

Numerous pieces of polystyrene coated in oil from reefer containers to be found in the inner harbour.

One family (Mum, Dad, three kids about 8 yrs) walking round the mount saw the huge amount of oil and debris in the tidal rock pools. Foolishly they attempted to recover some of it. Their bag got overfull, and all five of them ended up with significant oiling on their hands, arms and clothes. Back at the Mount surf club someone found them some hand cleaner, but it wasn't even looking like removing the oil. Everything they touched became fouled. They were in serious trouble, but didn't yet realise it.

Everyone else I've seen spontaneously helping have had simple rubber gloves on, and this is generally enough to keep them safe, while they help for half an hour. There are a lot of tears being shed when people see the beach.

The long haired chamois hides on the beach were all fouled in sticky sludge.   That didn't stop the seagulls from tearing at the fat on the skins.

Some overflights from light planes and helicopters.

Helicopters with pumps heading in and out from Rena.

Ship visible as a small line on the horizon from the beach.

So, some things are happening well, but despite assurances, some things are still happening too slowly.

polenska crane ship

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