Rena remains intact, further charges laid against captain
UPDATED: More charges for ship's master | Maritime New Zealand says the grounded container ship has been battered by a 3m swell and winds of 29 knots.
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UPDATED: Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) has laid further charges against the Master and Second Officer of the Rena, following the ship’s grounding on Astrolabe Reef off Tauranga on 5 October.
Both men each face one charge under section 338 (1B) and (15B) of the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) relating to the “discharge of harmful substances from ships or offshore installations”.
The RMA charge carries a maximum penalty of a fine of $300,000, or two years’ imprisonment, and $10,000 for every day the offending continues.
The Master and Second Officer (Navigation) were earlier charged by MNZ under section 65 of the Maritime Transport Act 1994 (MTA), “for operating a vessel in a manner causing unnecessary danger or risk”.
They have been remanded on bail without plea to reappear in the Tauranga District Court today on that charge and will face the RMA charge at the same appearance. Their names and identities are suppressed.
The MTA charge carries a maximum penalty of $10,000 or a maximum term of imprisonment of 12 months.
The shipwrecked Rena has again defied predictions it will break up by surviving intact after a night of heavy seas and wind.
Maritime New Zealand says the container ship, grounded on the Astrolabe reef off the Bay of Plenty coast, has been battered by a 3m swell and winds of around 29 knots.
A tug boat, Go Canopus, has remained hitched to the ship and motion sensors show no signs of a breakup.
Maritime New Zealand says further checks will be made this morning to see whether any containers have fallen overboard or fresh oil has leaked.
The latest update today adds: “It is important to note that the full extent of the impact of the current bad weather on Rena will not be known until we have full daylight and the salvage team is able to make an assessment.
“This may take some time as visibility is poor and conditions could make it difficult to undertake aerial observation. The crew on board the Go Canopus will also be reporting on the condition of the vessel.”
Around 150 New Zealand Defence Force personnel and 250 volunteers are on standby to clean up the coast if needed.
NBR staff
Wed, 02 Nov 2011
Wed, 02 Nov 2011
© All content copyright NBR. Do not reproduce in any form without permission, even if you have a paid subscription.
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Rena remains intact, further charges laid against captain
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