Environmental Disaster

The toxic oil spill in the Bay of Plenty will leave tonnes of dirty, sticky fuel on New Zealand beaches.

Trail of destruction. Pic: Getty Images

The clean up will continue today, even as “fist-sized patties about 5mm high” continue to wash up, with the weather hampering efforts to battle the spill from the crashed cargo ship Rena. It’s a looming environmental disaster.

Authorities can’t use booms to stop the spread because of the ocean conditions, and are hoping dispersants will reduce the damage. There is also some speculation marine microbes could help.

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  • gnome says:

    09:11pm | 11/10/11

    So here’s a non-punch quick guide-.  The whole fuel load on the ship was equivalent to about a minute and a quarter’s delivery from the deepwater horizon spill, which has been forgotten now that it was about a year ago and caused no effect.  A non-event blown out of all… Read more »

  • fairsfair says:

    03:55pm | 11/10/11

    Ah, from glowing rock to covered rock! You do live the high life JS Hows the serenity? Read more »

 

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