] Key Notes Special Edition: Stranded ship in Tauranga - Rt Hon John Key
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12 October 2011
Key Notes Special Edition: Stranded ship in Tauranga

This edition of Key Notes is dedicated to the grounding of a container ship grounded on the Astrolabe reef east of Tauranga and what the Government's actions have been so far in responding to the resulting environmental crisis.

I've been to Tauranga again this afternoon and I want to give you an update on the situation there.

As many of you will know, a container ship grounded on the Astrolabe reef, east of Tauranga, last Wednesday. It was carrying 1360 20-foot containers and had 1700 tonnes of heavy diesel oil on board.

As of about 6pm today, an estimated 350 tonnes of oil has leaked into the sea, some of which has reached Tauranga's beaches. Some of the containers have fallen overboard and there are large cracks in the ship which could cause the ship to sink.

I want to assure you that the Government has done everything it can to reduce the environmental impact of this situation, from the moment the ship hit the reef.

Currently weather conditions are delaying salvage attempts, which is frustrating for all of us. Some people have asked why the salvage team didn't get the oil off the ship earlier, while the weather conditions were clear.

The nature of the ship's grounding, and the holes in ship's hull and keel, created a number of very difficult issues for the salvage team. This included extensive damage to the ship's own piping when it hit the reef, which meant the salvage team had to cobble together pumping and piping systems in order to pump oil from the ship.

The Government is putting every available resource into the clean up and recovery efforts, and this will continue.

Experts are working to salvage the ship and transfer oil to another ship as soon as possible. We've also got environmental response teams working to protect wildlife, the Navy has ships at sea, and civilians and defence personnel are cleaning up the beaches.

I'd like to pass on my thanks to everyone who has helped the Government's response so far. There will be much more hard work to come.

For the latest updates and information, please visit the Maritime website at www.maritimenz.govt.nz. The Bay of Plenty Regional Council is also hosting community briefings around the area - click here for details.

Best wishes,

John Key
Prime Minister


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#1 - Kirsten said:
2011-10-12 23:49 - (Reply)

People just don't realise how long this process is going to take. The people of Tauranga are becoming impatient but I think that being fully aware of the implications of things like the oil having to be heated up before if can be pumped will really help them to understand what is happening. People are angry and rightly so because this catastrophic event will wreck our summers as surely as it will wreck our shorelines. We need to be told what we can and cannot do to help because we all want to do our bit to help clean this mess up. Keep up the good work John.

#1.1 - mike 2011-10-13 14:02 - (Reply)

I agree that more information on all the technical problems involved in trying to pump fuel oil would go a long way to explaining the apparent delays. Most of the critics are venting gut reactions without taking the time to think through their comments!

#1.2 - jan brown 2011-10-13 23:05 - (Reply)

I found it very interesting that the Dept of Conservation were on site on the second day of the disaster all ready to roll. They have obviously done their homeworrk the "just in case dept". With the size of our coastline I would have thought it could have been a good idea.

#2 - Helen 2011-10-13 09:10 - (Reply)

I'm getting more than annoyed with people blaming you and the National party for the earthquakes, the mine disaster and now this. For heavens sake. I know these things are emotional but the National party has had more to deal with through natural disasters, world economies and others stupidity than Labour has in all it's time of serving... So pleased that we have had the National party and YOU in charge - at last this country seems like it is getting back to a better state... Back you all the way... :-)

#3 - Kelvin Duncan 2011-10-14 09:46 - (Reply)

I hope that this unfortunate episode will prompt a review of legislation, and the provision of remediation services, and cost recuperation from the perpetrators, as well as prompting the government to seek international agreement towards extending the Law of the Sea to include controls/performance requirements on registration of vessels in countries of convenience. I am disappointed that none of these have been mentioned. It is also not true that all that could be done was done. Certainly the salvage aspects had to be done with caution, but the clean up could and can be handled much better. But, bunker oil, though nasty, will be decomposed by naturally occurring bacteria if these are given a chance. Current cleanup approaches don't aim at this.

#4 - Gloria Russell said:
2011-10-14 09:52 - (Reply)

Excellant information received.Citizens should leave the decisions to those with the expertise in this area which is not only very technical but also dangerous. Thank you for the Prime Ministers update which is much appreciated.

#5 - Ramona said:
2011-10-14 10:01 - (Reply)

PM Key I met you with my mother (a widow of the Vietnam War) at Tribute 08. I was struck by your sincerity then as a New Zealander, and ever since. I've felt that you love this country and are doing your best to serve its best interests. I voted for you and drew many Labour supporters in the last election in your direction. Though I have the deepest respect for your intellect, professionalism, and ideals I am struggling to understand why you back deep sea exploration for oil on the East Coast. I have watched you deal with the complexities of the past 3 1/2 years (Foreshore & Seabed, Christchurch, Pike River, the RWC, and now Rena) - in my opinion you're doing a champion job! However I grew up on the East Coast, and my family have been nourished by its tides and its way of life. I have made submissions, written letters, attended public meetings at home and in Auckland to no avail. Now I appeal to you as a most avid supporter, to reassess the potential costs (micro - way of life, and ecosystem) versus benefits (macro - jobs, revenues, tax). As an educated and connected Maori/NZ Euro I look to you for a better way forward for Aotearoa. My hope in you, is that you will not neglect the voices of my people, and if needs be, you will be prepared to stand alone in your leadership, on this issue. Of all the matters presented to you to deal with, I believe in light of Rena, this is your defining moment.

#6 - Alan Stephenson 2011-10-14 13:30 - (Reply)

I would like to understand why helicopters were not used immediately to remove the containers that were likely to fall overboard. I can't think of anything preventing that being organised as soon as the grounding happened.

#6.1 - Simon 2011-10-14 15:35 - (Reply)

Since you asked nicely - The largest chopper in the world can not lift 24 tonne. And if it could, you can't just fly one in from overseas. They're not a plane.

#7 - richard 2011-10-16 15:10 - (Reply)

We have a real problem in New Zealand, and it annoys me because it never used to be like this. It is the very bad journlist standards that now exist. The reason we see people getting so aggrivated right now about this ship is because the media tell half truths, they take a little bit of truth and spin it. I'm tired of it. I give great credit to nick Smith for not letting the plonker on the nation twist his words the other day. But really, had it with the media and the way they invent the news.

#8 - Ellie44 2011-10-16 23:35 - (Reply)

No mention of the Navy? They've been there since Day Two working hard, and putting their lives in DANGER every day - and at this point, we've been told for, at a minimum, of at least one month from now. Even the media are neglecting this - one officer is already in hospital.

#9 - lawrence 2011-10-18 09:04 - (Reply)

Sir, still awaiting reply about Coro street programme. John are you in charge or not? No-one likes the change and I mean no-one! Please get with the programm. lawry


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