Attempts made to recover fuel from grounded fishing boat

Attempts made to recover fuel from grounded fishing boat

NZPA - August 20, 2008, 10:18 am

Workers trying to recover thousands of litres of fuel from a grounded fishing boat in Northland say they are working under extremely difficult conditions to try to minimise the environmental damage .


The 22-metre, Northland-based Kumea II ran aground on Monday evening a few hours after its crew were forced to abandon it when it began taking on water about three nautical miles off Shipwreck Bay, Ahipara.


An as-yet undetermined amount of the estimated 8000 litres of diesel in two large tanks aboard the vessel when it ran aground has since escaped.
Northland Regional Council's Opua-based deputy regional harbourmaster, Jim Lyle , said officials were facing an extremely difficult task trying to recover the diesel on the boat at Waipapakauri, on Ninety Mile Beach.


Attempts to recover the remaining fuel have been hampered by the fact the Kumea II is stuck on its side in the surf line, giving them an extremely narrow window of opportunity to gain access to the boat and the fuel, each day.


Mr Lyle said the initial focus had to be the safe removal of any remaining diesel as well as other lubricants and engine oils, to try to minimise potential environmental harm but it was extremely difficult task in the circumstances.


While the escape of any diesel from the vessel was a concern, the light nature of diesel compared to other oils meant it broke up very quickly in the rough seas in the area and is unlikely to cause any lasting environmental damage, he said.
Recovery plans were in place and several Kaitaia and Opua-based Regional Council staff, together with the vessel's Auckland-based insurance assessor, hoped to be able to get back on board the Kumea II about 4pm today to recover as many contaminants as possible.


Mr Lyle says the 24-year-old wooden-hulled vessel was strong and remained intact despite having been battered by the surf through several tidal cycles since running aground.
Lifting gear would be on-site at the beach this afternoon but the site and size of the vessel, together with the fact it is now filled with tonnes of water and sand, may make recovery in one piece difficult, he said.


Locals have been helping officials recover debris from the beach.
Regional Council staff have also been recovering diesel-soaked ropes and other contaminated materials from the vessel from the beach.