Salvage and clean-up bill approaches $2m

By JO-MARIE BROWN

Salvage and clean-up costs following the stranding of the Jody F. Millennium could be approaching $2 million.

United Salvage director Ian Hoskison was reluctant to put a figure on the salvage operation yesterday but hinted that the cost was around $1 million.

That comes on top of the cost of cleaning up the 25 tonnes of oil that the ship leaked onto Gisborne's beaches last weekend. The Japanese company that owns the ship, Soki Kisen, would be sent the bill, which the Maritime Safety Authority estimated was now just over $800,000.

Mr Hoskison was confident the battered ship would not suffer any more damage despite salvage attempts having been delayed until next week.

The Jody F. Millennium has been left to rock around in heavy seas since a tow line snapped on Thursday. She has since drifted another 60m down the beach.

Mr Hoskison said calmer weather - not due until Wednesday - would be needed before any refloating attempt would be made.

"There is no sign of any deterioration in the structure of the ship," he said.

"You can see some flexing in the vessel with the wave action ... but you also see that in a seaway."

The ship was not in danger of breaking up unless the weather significantly worsened.

Waves of up to 3m were expected to pound the ship over the weekend and conditions were not forecast to improve until early next week.

The Keera tug is due to arrive in Gisborne from Melbourne this weekend to help pull the ship free.

The Pacific Chieftain's tow line would be reattached tomorrow and both tugs would once again begin easing the ship's bow around to face south into the ocean in preparation for refloating.

Mr Hoskison, who had hoped to make an attempt on this morning's high tide, said the delay would allow the remaining 195 tonnes of oil in the ship's bottom tanks to be transferred above the water line.

This would minimise the risk of another oil spill should any more damage occur.

Mr Hoskison yesterday revealed the Jody had an insured value of $US13.5 million ($32 million).