Shipping company apologizes to those affected by the New Zealand oil disaster

The owners of the Liberian-flagged container ship that ran aground off the east coast of New Zealand’s North Island spilling tonnes of oil into the sea last week, has apologized to everyone affected by the incident.

However, the Managing Director of Costamare Shipping Company, Diamantis Manos, has refused to accept liability for the country’s worst ever environmental disaster.

“We apologize without hesitation for what has happened. It would be inappropriate for us to publicly speculate on the cause of the groundings at this stage. We sincerely apologize to the people of Tauranga and New Zealand for this incident,” Manos said in a statement.

Costamare Shipping will carryout an internal investigation into the incident and will look to work side by side the Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) and relative authorities, but any liability will be placed firmly in the hands of international maritime law, explained Manos.

The Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), the company chartering the vessel at the time of the incident, has also refused to accept responsibility. Phil Abraham, New Zealand’s General Manager for MSC, stated that during 20 years of chartering 18 separate vessels with Costamare this was the first time a problem had occurred.

“We've entered into a charter with Costamare and they are responsible for the crew and the captain. In relation to the incident and the vessel hitting the reef, that's a matter for the owner. That's not our responsibility,” Abraham told Radio New Zealand.

The Rena was left stranded on Astrolabe Reef 14 miles off Tauranga on the North Island on October 5th. Around 350 tonnes of oil has spewed into the ocean from a breached fuel tank, killing thousands of seabirds and swarms of fish in the process. 88 shipping containers have fallen overboard, with many left rolling on the deck of the 775ft vessel.

The situation could get even worse, as there are reportedly eleven containers, thought to still be on board, that contain extremely hazardous substances.

 

Images: New Zealand Defence Force