NZ PM demands oil slick answers
By Neil Sands | China Daily | Updated: 2011-10-10 08:03
WELLINGTON, New Zealand - Salvage crews were scrambling to off-load oil from a stranded container ship in New Zealand's Bay of Plenty on Sunday, as Prime Minister John Key demanded to know why the vessel hit a reef in calm waters.
With the nation's meteorological service forecasting deteriorating conditions, including possible gale-force winds, from Monday afternoon, the race to remove heavy fuel oil from the 47,000-ton vessel Rena took on added urgency.
Officials fear the stricken ship will break up and sink in the North Island bay and potentially cause New Zealand's worst maritime pollution disaster in decades if the 1,700 tons of oil is still on board.
Photo