Rena anger grows

As cargo from the wrecked Rena continues to wash up on the shoreline, the government faces calls for a royal commission of inquiry into the maritime disaster.

The container ship – which ran aground on the Astrolabe Reef off Mt Maunganui in early October – broke up seven days ago after being battered by rough seas.

About 881 containers remained on board the ship when it split up and about 150 are thought to have spilled overboard in the subsequent hours. Since then, freight such as timber and milk powder has washed ashore.

Green Party oceans spokesman Gareth Hughes has called for an independent commission to investigate the disaster and Maritime New Zealand's overall management of New Zealand's commercial waterways.

"The government still hasn't committed to an independent inquiry. But we need one," Hughes told the Sunday Star-Times.

An internal Maritime New Zealand inquiry would not go far enough and would not criticise the agency's performance.

"Neither Maritime New Zealand nor the salvors will come out and say they should have done a better job. Ministers also won't question their response.

"That is why you need an independent inquiry."

Hughes said a royal commission was necessary because there were too many unanswered questions on the grounding of the Rena, and the performance of Maritime NZ.

They included the agency's levels of disaster preparedness, funding and in-house expertise.

Hughes said the commission could also investigate the impact that deregulation of coastal shipping had had, including claims that numerous unseaworthy ships were operating in New Zealand waters.

But Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee said any talk of a royal commission was highly premature.

"While we have been focusing on the salvage and clean-up efforts, the independent Transport Accident Investigation Commission is investigating the grounding and can be expected to make any recommendations required on matters to improve shipping safety, while Maritime NZ's regulatory investigation already has Rena crew facing court charges," he said.

"In due course we will consider whether any further inquiries are needed and, if so, the most appropriate form they would take."

Hughes said that if his push for a commission was unsuccessful, he would campaign for a parliamentary select committee to look into the incident.

"But ultimately, a royal commission of inquiry is ideal. We are talking about the worst-ever marine environmental disaster in New Zealand. The salvage is also likely to cost $300 million or more.

"As a maritime nation, it's important we have confidence in our ability to avoid accidents and also be prepared when accidents happen."

The Rena had been the subject of safety concerns before the grounding.

The ship was impounded in Australia earlier in the year, partially due to mechanical faults.

Ship management were also warned about the Rena's safety record less than two weeks before the grounding.

It is also alleged that the Rena almost collided with an oil tanker near Napier just two days before running aground. It's understood the tanker had to take evasive action to avoid the container ship.

"The Rena had safety concerns raised about it in China, in Australia and then in Bluff," Hughes said.

"Is our regime up to standard and are we allowing substandard vessels to ply our waters?"

At least 32 containers on board the Rena contain dangerous goods, three times the number originally claimed.

The ship's official manifest, released soon after the grounding, listed 11 containers of goods classified as hazardous.

But in November, Maritime NZ director Catherine Taylor confirmed a further 21 such containers had not been declared, despite the requirements of the International Dangerous Goods Code.

The agency is investigating the oversight.

- © Fairfax NZ News