WELLINGTON: Ships are being warned to watch out for containers and debris in the water, and oil response teams are readying to clean up beaches off New Zealand's Tauranga coast after the grounded container ship Rena broke up in heavy seas yesterday.
The Rena is now in two parts 20 metres to 30 metres apart on Astrolabe Reef in the Bay of Plenty where it foundered last October. At least 23 containers - but perhaps as many as 30 - have fallen off and are floating or partly submerged, the Maritime New Zealand salvage unit manager, David Billington, said.
''While the two sections of the Rena currently remain on the reef, there's no question the ship is badly damaged, with the severe movement breaking off many of the hatch covers and releasing containers from the holds,'' Mr Billington said.
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/environment/conservation/new-spill-emergency-as-grounded-ship-breaks-up-off-new-zealand-20120108-1pq5h.html#ixzz1iyee9QSt
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