Ship's captain arrested in Rena grounding

UPDATE: Bad weather continues to hamper salvage efforts to offload fuel oil and prevent containers falling from the stricken freighter Rena in the Bay of Plenty.

In latest developments:

• Rena’s captain arrested and appears in court
• Weather prevents inspection flights
• About 70 containers have come adrift
• More heavy oil expected to wash up on beaches

Transport Minister Steven Joyce has confirmed the ship’s captain has been arrested and will faces seamanship charges under s65 of the Marine Act in Tauranga District Court this morning.

Further charges are likely. The initial charges carry penalties of up to $10,000 in fines and a year's jail.

Maritime New Zealand says the weather has prevented an aerial survey of the damage to the ship this morning but last night it issued a navigational warning to shipping because some 70 containers have fallen into the sea.

Mr Joyce says attempts will be made to track and recover them, though this will be difficult. Some are empty, some will sink and others may be washed ashore.

The Rena has nearly 1400 containers of export cargo. Official reports say the Rena is listing 18 degrees to starboard and is being battered by strong winds and a 5m swell.

Mr Joyce and Environment Minister Nick Smith both attended a local residents’ meeting last night to brief them on developments.

A week ago, the Rena rammed into the Astrolabe reef at full speed, rupturing its fuel pipes and sending 350 tonnes of oil into the sea. In all, the Greek-owned Rena is carrying 1700 tonnes of fuel oil.

Officials have responded to criticism that they did not act quickly enough to remove the oil by saying it has to heated and that takes specialist equipment.

The oil forms globules that are being washed ashore but these are also easily recovered by hand. Mr Smith says the bad weather has pluses and minuses.

“The heavy seas will result in oil being released but it will also break up easier. We are expecting more oil on the beaches today,” he says.

Mr Joyce says about 100 Defence Force personnel will help volunteer teams in the clean up of the Bay of Plenty beaches.