Fuel from grounded boat threatens coast

Supplied

THREAT: Thousands of litres of diesel are threatening the coast of Ninety Mile Beach after fishing boat Kumea II ran aground.

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Thousands of litres of diesel are threatening the coast of Ninety Mile Beach after a fishing boat ran aground on Monday night.

Crew were forced to abandon the 22-metre Northland based boat Kumea II when it began taking on water about three nautical miles off Shipwreck Bay, Ahipara.

It is not yet known how much of the estimated 8000 litres of diesel has leaked from two tanks since the vessel ran aground.

Northland Regional Council’s deputy regional harbourmaster Jim Lyle said officials are facing an “extremely difficult” task trying to recover the thousands of litres of diesel on board the wooden-hulled boat.

Lyle said the boat is on its side in the surf line, giving officials an extremely narrow window of opportunity to gain access to the boat – and the fuel - each day.

“Effectively officials can gain access to the stricken vessel for only about one hour at a time on the low tides at the beginning and end of the day,” he said.

He says the initial focus has to be the safe removal of any remaining diesel as well as other lubricants and engine oils to try to minimise potential environmental harm.

“But this is an extremely difficult task in the circumstances,” he said.

Kaitaia and Opua-based regional council staff – together with the vessel’s Auckland-based insurance assessor, had hoped to be able to get back on board the vessel today to recover as many contaminants as possible.

Lyle said the 24-year-old boat is strong and remains intact despite having been battered by the surf.

Locals have been helping officials recover debris – including the vessel’s buoys and fish bins – from the beach.

Lyle said while the escape of any diesel from the vessel is a concern, the light nature of diesel compared to other oils means it breaks up very quickly in the rough seas in the area and is unlikely to cause any lasting environmental damage.

- © Fairfax NZ News