ALL media enquiries: 0800 774 554 (0800 SPILL INFO)

Rena update (update 54) – 25 October 2011 6.30pm

The salvage team working on the grounded vessel Rena has removed 737 tonnes of fuel from the ship, Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) confirmed today.

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Rena update (update 53) – 25 October 2011 7.15am

The removal of fuel from the cargo vessel Rena continued overnight with the salvage team confirming they are now past halfway.

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Rena update (update 52) – 25 October 2011 6.00pm

Nearly half of the oil left on board the grounded container ship Rena in Tauranga has now been pumped off to the bunker barge Awanuia.

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Rena update (update 51) – 25 October 2011 2.15pm

A new enclosure for little blue penguins at the Wildlife Response Centre at Te Maunga is well on its way to completion. The builders aim to have three of the planned 10 aviaries finished by this afternoon.

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Rena update (update 50) – 25 October 2011 7.30am

Salvors have continued to pump oil from the grounded vessel Rena overnight, while on shore the incident command team is planning for any impact on the shoreline from the oil that leaked from the ship on Saturday night.

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Rena update (update 49) – 24 October 2011 6.00pm

Nearly a third of the oil on board the grounded Rena at Tauranga has now been pumped off the ship, but a challenging job still lies ahead for the salvage team, who must get further pumping systems in place for all the fuel tanks.

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Rena update (update 48) – 24 October 2011 2.30pm

Volunteers who have helped clean up Bay of Plenty beaches over the past 10 days have shown incredible support for the oil spill response effort, National On Scene Commander Rob Service says.

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Rena update (update 47) – 24 October 2011 7.00am

Good weather is allowing salvage operation on board the cargo vessel Rena to make good progress, Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) says.

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Rena update (update 46) – 23 October 2011 7.00pm

Salvors have made slow but consistent progress with a total of 337 tonnes of oil pumped from the Rena by 1:00pm today.

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Media update – 23 October 2011 4.00pm

A total of 337 tonnes of oil had now been removed from Rena's port number 5 tank.

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Rena update (update 45) – 23 October 2011 2.00pm

Four vessels have been working since early this afternoon to corral an estimated 5 to 10 tonnes of oil spilled overnight from the cargo vessel Rena.

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Media advisory – 23 October 2011 10.00am

Further to this morning’s media release, below is an update from this morning’s over-flight of Rena.

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Rena update (update 44) – 23 October 2011 7.00am

Following discussions with the Bay of Plenty Medical Officer of Health, Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) has this morning relaxed restrictions prohibiting swimming at the main Mount Maunganui beach.

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Rena update (update 43) – 22 October 2011 6.00pm

At 2pm today, the total amount of oil pumped from the port tank of the cargo vessel Rena was confirmed at 256 tonnes, Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) says. The weather forecast remains good for further pumping over the next few days.

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Rena update (update 42) – 22 October 2011 1.45pm

Relatively calm weather has allowed on-going pumping of oil from the vessel Rena today, while clean-up operations continue at various points along the coastline.

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MEDIA ADVISORY – BEACH GOERS REMINDED TO STAY OUT OF THE WATER

As at 9.30 am members of the public heading to the re-opened Mount Maunganui beach over the weekend are reminded they should stay out of the water.

The beach between Mount Maunganui base track and Tay Street was reopened yesterday.

However, this is for public access to the beach only and public health warnings to avoid the oil-contaminated water remain in place.

Surf Lifesaving teams will not be on the beach over the long weekend and beach goers are reminded not to go swimming.

They should also refrain from collecting shellfish and fishing.

Public health information is available on the Toi Te Ora - Bay of Plenty District Health Board website.

There is still residual oil in the water. Warnings will remain in place until environmental testing confirms the water is safe.

Rena update (update 41) – 22 October 2011 7.00am

Fuel pumping on board the vessel Rena continued overnight and weather conditions look good for operations today, Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) says.

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Rena update (update 40) – 21 October 2011 7.00pm

Salvage operations on board the cargo vessel Rena are progressing slowly but steadily, with a total of 171 tonnes removed from the vessel by this afternoon.

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Rena update (update 39) – 21 October 2011 2.00pm

The salvage team is continuing to pump oil from the cargo vessel Rena today, making slow but steady progress, Salvage Unit Manager Andrew Berry says.

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Rena update (update 38) – 21 October 2011 7.00am

The removal of oil from Rena continued overnight with the salvage team pumping around 60 tonnes of oil from the vessel. This brings the total oil pumped from the ship to around 150 tonnes.

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Rena update (update 37) – 20 October 2011 7.15pm

The removal of oil from the vessel Rena continues this evening, following the re-establishment of pumping lines earlier this afternoon. Figures on how much oil has been pumped from the ship today are not yet available.

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Rena update (update 36) – 20 October 2011 1.30pm

Salvage unit manager Bruce Anderson says a team of nine salvors is currently aboard the vessel Rena and began pumping oil at 12.09pm, after carrying out safety checks.

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Rena update (update 35) – 20 October 2011 7.40am

There has been no reported change in the Rena’s situation overnight, and salvors plan to board the vessel today to resume pumping operations.

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Rena update (update 34) – 19 October 2011 7.00pm

Clean-up operations are underway along the eastern coastline today as some oil and debris has come ashore as far south as the East Cape.

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Rena update (update 33) – 19 October 2011 2.45pm

Salvors are now back on board the vessel Rena carrying out general assessments of the ship’s status. A team of three salvors re-boarded the ship this morning, however, swell and weather conditions have not been favourable for restarting pumping of from the ship.

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Rena update (update 32) – 19 October 2011 7.30am

There has been no report of any further movement from Rena overnight. However, salvage company experts will be flying out to the vessel about 7.30am to assess the situation.

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Rena update (update 31) – 18 October 2011 7.20pm

Salvage efforts on board Rena are now entering a critical phase, as unfavourable weather conditions over the next 24 hours continue to affect operations and the movement of the ship.

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Rena update (update 30) – 18 October 2011 12.53pm

A small amount of oil was released from the bow of Rena this morning. A light sheen of oil has been observed moving out to sea with the prevailing wind while the number of containers lost overboard remains at 88.

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Rena update (update 29) – 18 October 2011 7.00am

Pumping operations on board the Rena were suspended about 11.30pm yesterday due to bad weather, with rough seas and strong winds of 35 knots (65km/h). Weather in the area this morning remains poor and will impact on both salvage and oil recovery operations today. There are currently swells peaking at 4m around the vessel.

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Rena update (update 28) – 17 October 2011 7.00pm

The removal of oil from the Rena has continued today with good progress being made. A crew of three salvage team members will remain on board overnight to continue with pumping as weather permits. About 70 tonnes of oil had been pumped off the vessel as of 5.30pm today.

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MEDIA ADVISORY – PUMPING PROGRESS UPDATE

At our 3.30pm briefing we promised an update on the oil transfer operation. As at 5:30pm, just over 70 tonnes has been pumped from the stricken ship to the vessel Awanuia. A crew of three salvage team members will remain on board overnight to continue with pumping as weather permits.

The usual 7pm media release will follow.

Rena update (update 27) – 17 October 2011 3pm

Reports by some media that the Rena is breaking up are incorrect. Salvage experts advise that while the Rena is cracked port and starboard, it remains together in one piece and is in the same position as it has been for the past week.

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Rena update (update 26) – 17 October 2011 11.45am

Fishermen, boaties and other vessel operators coming across containers at sea that have fallen from Rena are asked not to attempt to touch or move the containers, as they remain a significant navigational hazard.

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MEDIA ADVISORY – 15 spaces available on board Navy vessel, departing at 11am today

Media have an opportunity to view the Rena on board the Navy vessel HMNZS Rotoiti, departing at 11am today. Only 15 spaces are available, and will be given out on first come first served basis.

Interested media must register through the 0800 media number (0800 664 554) by 10am at latest.

Selected media must be at the Salisbury Avenue wharf, Pilot Bay, Mt Maunganui, no later than 10.55am, where they will be met and escorted on board by NZDF personnel.

Salvage experts will be on hand to answer any questions. HMNZS Rotoiti is expected to arrive back in port around 3pm today.

Rena update (update 25) – 17 October 2011 7.00am

The focus of operations today continues to centre on the salvage effort aboard Rena with some good progress made overnight on pumping oil off the stricken ship.

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Rena update (update 24) – 16 October 2011 7.00pm

The focus of operations today has centred on the salvage effort aboard Rena with good progress being made on preparations for pumping oil. All preparations have been done to begin pumping.

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Rena update (update 23) – 16 October 2011 11.30am

The National On Scene Commander has agreed to re-open a small section of beach between Mount Maunganui and Moturiki Island (Leisure Island).

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URGENT – Media vessels disrupting salvage operation

There are currently four vessels with media on board breaching the maritime exclusion zone. They are close to the Rena and they are disrupting salvage operations.

Air operations cannot be undertaken while these vessels are in the area and have ceased while this is resolved. This is because we cannot risk lifting or dropping off heavy equipment while these vessels are nearby.

We are at a critical stage of the salvage operation and these vessels need to leave the area immediately.

Rena update (update 22) – 16 October 2011 7.00am

The Bay of Plenty community is continuing to support oil spill response efforts, with thousands of volunteers registered to assist beach clean-up operations.

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Rena update (update 21) – 15 October 2011 7.30pm

MNZ Salvage Unit head Bruce Anderson today warned that the process of removing oil off the stricken container vessel Rena wouldn't be a quick or easy process.

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