Cargo ship on reef may break up

A CARGO ship that has spilled hundreds of tonnes of oil since striking a reef off New Zealand’s coast was breaking up in heavy seas yesterday, as its captain faced criminal charges in court.

A vertical crack was apparent from the deck to the waterline of the Liberian-flagged Rena, which ran aground on 5 October on Astrolabe Reef, 14 miles from Tauranga Harbour on North Island. About 70 containers have fallen fromthe 775ft vessel as it has listed in the worsening ocean conditions.

There were 1,368 containers on board, 11 of which contained hazardous substances.

Maritime New Zealand, which is managing the emergency response, said the crack was a “substantial structural failure” and warned the stern may break away. Tug boats were holding the stern on the reef while efforts are made to remove the oil from the ship, or to tow the stern to shallow water.

The 44-year-old Filipino captain, whose name has not been revealed, was charged with operating a vessel in a manner causing unnecessary danger or risk and was released on bail.

The captain’s lawyer, Paul Mabey, requested Judge Robert Wolff withhold his client’s name because, he said, “there is a real potential that some persons may want to take matters into their own hands”.

Officials believe the ship had about 1,700 tonnes of oil and 200 tonnes of diesel on board.