Evacuation option for Gisborne residents

By ANNE BESTON and JO-MARIE BROWN

Residents along the Gisborne coastline were given the option of evacuating their homes last night after complaining about fumes from heavy fuel leaking from a stranded log carrier.

A national marine oil spill team member, Richard Steele, said some residents had complained about the fumes from the heavy fuel which had created "black, gooey muck" along the shoreline near the city.

Fifty to 60 houses were affected by the stench, Mr Steele said, and the Gisborne medical officer of public health and police had told residents to move to a local marae if they were worried.

"People have been told that if they are concerned or if they have a respiratory condition then they should think about moving," he said.

A marine official said fish and birds could die unless the remaining 180 tonnes of diesel oil inside the ship's ruptured fuel tank could be pumped out.

Oil on board the Jody F Millennium began seeping into the ocean around midday yesterday.

The 156m ship has been pounded by heavy swells since becoming stranded at 10 pm on Waitangi Day when making a dash from Gisborne's port.

Maritime Safety Authority director Russell Kilvington said several tonnes of oil had been swept 400m to shore.

"At the moment it's barely an environmental disaster ... but if it gets any larger, given the nature of the oil, I'm afraid wildlife casualties are inevitable," he said.

Transport Minister Mark Gosche, who flew to Gisborne yesterday, said he was happy with the initial response to the spill.

"The situation has the potential to be serious and every effort has to be made to avert any potential problems."

The authority, the Department of Conservation and the Gisborne District Council staff have set up inflatable booms around the ship to try to contain the spill.

The current was shifting the oil towards the Turanganui River, where it was mopped up.

Oil has washed up along a 1km stretch of Waikanae Beach.

Mr Kilvington said the priority was to pump the remaining oil out of the damaged fuel tank into a higher part of the ship.

A total of 690 tonnes of oil and light diesel was on board, along with 20,000 tonnes of pine logs.

Mr Kilvington said the leak was likely to continue today while equipment was found to transfer the oil.

National Defence Headquarters staff were expected to arrive in Gisborne last night to assist.

A temporary centre would also be established by a Massey University wildlife care unit and DoC staff to treat any affected wildlife. Salvage experts plan to contain the oil leak and stabilise the ship by pumping water into ballast tanks before considering how to move it.

Mr Kilvington said the logs would have to be lifted off before the ship could be refloated.

The salvage effort was now expected to take several weeks.

Waikanae and Midway beaches were closed yesterday as part of a 500m exclusion zone around the ship prohibiting people, boats or aircraft from getting too close.

Whispering Sands Motel owner Judith Martin was one of the first to notice the fumes, at 1 pm yesterday. "It just reeks."

Mrs Martin, who lives opposite Waikanae Beach, said she was extremely worried about the threat of pollution.

"People are starting to worry about what the long-term effects will be."

nzherald.co.nz/marine