New oil cracks in oil spills New Zealand faces most serious marine pollution

The New Zealand Maritime Safety Administration announced on the 11th that there was a new crack in the "Reina" cargo vessel that hit the reef near the eastern part of the North Island. The main fuel tank leaked and a lot of fuel leaked into the bay. Nick Smith, New Zealand's environment minister, said that this is New Zealand's "most serious marine environmental disaster."

A spokesman for the New Zealand Maritime Safety Administration stated that the Renner was hit by a five-meter wave and the angle of inclination of the hull changed, resulting in the opening of a main fuel tank. "As of this morning, about 130 tons to 350 tons of fuel leaked." MSA officials estimated that the fuel leakage may affect the southern coast of the North Island. Maritime Authority officials warned that if the Reina hull breaks, all fuel flow into the Bay of Plenty may lead to New Zealand’s worst marine pollution in decades. On the 11th, the New Zealand side assisted in the evacuation of all personnel of the Reina. A number of local residents said that they saw a large number of dead sea birds and fish on the beach.