New Zealand oil spill: grounded ship threatens environmental disaster

[malaise]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/oct/09/new-zealand-oil-spill-rena
<snip>
A container ship is grounded and leaking oil into New Zealand's pristine Bay of Plenty, with international crews scrambling to limit the environmental damage and refloat the vessel before it breaks up.

The 47,000-tonne Rena ran aground on Astrolabe Reef on Wednesday. An oil leak from the Liberian-flagged freighter has spread over an area of three miles, according to the BBC. There are estimates of 30 tonnes of oil spilt so far out of the 1,700 tonnes that could be dumped into the ocean if the Rena is wrecked in one of New Zealand's most prized areas of natural beauty.

Maritime authorities have said they are treating birds including little blue penguins brought in covered with oil. Animal welfare workers said the disaster had struck in the middle of breeding season for native birds on the bay.

Australia's ABC network said a team of 200 people including specialists from Australia, Britain, Holland and Singapore had been sent in and 300 defence personnel were on standby in case the slick reached the coastline of the North Island.

The New Zealand prime minister, John Key, toured the scene by air and said two inquiries were under way into the cause. "People know about the reef, and for to plough into it for no particular reason – at night, in calm waters – tells you something terrible has gone wrong and we need to understand why," he told Radio New Zealand.
----------------------

[BeHereNow]

1. Well fuck.

That is beyond the pale...
"Liberian flagged," translation: Chevron/Exxon Mobile/You name it
are the guilty party here.
They use Liberia to freight their goods in an attempt to
avoid attacks, to stay anonymous.

I want to know WHO is responsible for this latest murder attempt
on our oceans.

It has to stop.
Now.
BHN

[malaise]

2. They don't give a flying fugg

The only thing sacred to these goons is wealth.
I hope the NZ government sue them.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

5. Probably owned by a corp who' only asset is that ship

[BeHereNow]

7. No, they don't give a fugg- you are correct.

But one day, somehow- they MUST be held accountable
to a jury of their peers- that would be us, and the voiceless
creatures of the planet who they seem impervious to.
BHN

[malaise]

9. I agree - check this link

http://www.news.com.au/world/nz-oil-spill-could-reach-beaches/story-e6frfkyi-1226162566661
<snip>
EXPERTS are warning the oil spill from cargo ship Rena in New Zealand could spread with bad weather approaching.

The weather also is likely to slow plans to pump 1,700 tonnes of oil off the ship, which crashed into the Astrolabe Reef off Tauranga in New Zealand's Bay of Plenty on Wednesday.

Heavy rain and gusty winds are forecast to hit the area today.

The bad weather is likely to spread the reach of the spill, Maritime New Zealand on-scene commander Rob Service says.

It was difficult to predict where it would travel, but it was likely to reach beaches south of Mt Maunganui and Papamoa by Wednesday or Thursday, Mr Service said.

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/world/nz-oil-spill-could-reach-beaches/story-e6frfkyi-1226162566661#ixzz1aIumvU2y

[stuntcat]

3. :cry:

:cry:

[MountainLaurel]

4. Horrible

We stayed near there on our honeymoon, and it is a natural wonder. I hope they find out who was responsible and nail their asses to the wall.

[BeHereNow]

6. Liberia flagged vessel is all you need to know

as far as who is responsible.
My first guess?
Exxon Mobile.

Fuckers- may they rot in hell for their
assaults on nature and humanity.

BHN

[stuntcat]

8. I wish there WAS a Hell

these people will not pay.. maybe with money yes but they'll have happier retirements than most other humans.

It is the sickest kind of sick, the realest Evil there is, I think. At least I'm 41, my years watching my species rape the Earth are half over.. sometimes that is the only thing I'm glad for.