UPDATE - Storm lashes oil-leak ship off New Zealand
Date: 14-Feb-02
Country: NEW ZEALAND
Author: Lincoln Feast
The Panama-registered Jody F. Millennium ran aground in heavy seas a week ago, spilling around 40 tonnes of glutinous fuel oil onto pristine beaches near the popular holiday town of Gisborne, 350 km (210 miles) north of Wellington.
Forecasters expected a severe storm off the coast to intensify on Wednesday and batter the region until at least Friday.
Officials feared that if they refloated the ship, it would be unable to steer and could leak more oil if it shattered in the storm, the Maritime Safety Authority (MSA) said.
"It's risky if they try and (refloat her) but it's very risky if they stay and try and ride it out," Maritime Safety Authority spokesman Russell Kilvington said.
Kllvington said a breakup of the two-year-old vessel was unlikely.
"But if it did, the consequences will be pretty severe and we could be talking about the possible evacuation of people because oil will get up in the air and that's very dangerous to eyes and lungs," he said.
WORST WEATHER TO COME
Efforts to transfer the remaining fuel oil onboard into barges had been halted by the deteriorating weather during the night and forecasters were predicting the worst was yet to come. "I think we are looking at (waves of) four-to-five metres (13-17 feet) with occasional seven metres (22 feet) by this evening and that fairly large swell continuing through Friday," NZ Meteorological Service marine forecaster Andrew Downs told Reuters.
Winds were expected to reach gale force in Gisborne by nightfall, he added.
About half of the more than 600 tonnes of oil aboard the ship when it ran aground on Febraury 6 remain.
Tugs turned the ship's bow into the oncoming swell and workers pumped out ballast to improve buoyancy before Wednesday's attempt to refloat the vessel, Ian Hoskison of United Salvage told Reuters.
"It all depends whether she wants to come or not. The salvage master will assess that, and if he feels lively and he wants to have a go for it he will - there's no point leaving it there," Hoskison said.
CHOPPERS AT WORK ON LOGS
A helicopter unloadeded 100 tonnes of the 20,000 tonnes of logs onboard the ship to help lighten the load, Hoskison said.
The crew of 19 Korean sailors have chosen to ride out the storm aboard the 160-metre (525 foot) ship operated by Hyundai Merchant Marine Co.
The cost of the clean up operation has risen to around NZ$500,000 ($210,000), MSA said. Transport Minister Mark Gosche said although the vessel was fully insured, the government was considering extending compulsory insurance provisions to all ships. Now, only tankers must carry the insurance.
"I want to ensure all ships that enter New Zealand ports can pay for any oil pollution damage they cause," he said in a statement.