Storm warning over stuck ship

By JO-MARIE BROWN

The log carrier stranded off Gisborne is likely to be hit by another southerly storm before attempts can be made to refloat her.

Maritime Safety Authority officials yesterday outlined the salvor's plan to free the ship, but warned it was unlikely the Jody F Millennium would be moved this week.

The MetService expects a southerly front to pass over Gisborne on Thursday, producing swells of 3m to 4m.

The ship has been grounded close to shore since Waitangi Day, when a low-pressure system created 5m swells in Poverty Bay.

Authority deputy director Bruce Maroc said the salvage attempt was moving as quickly as possible. The ship would be anchored to the seabed and secured to a large tug if the weather deteriorated.

The ship's Japanese owner has chartered a Hercules to bring heavy cables and chains from Australia and large anchors from Picton are also en route to Gisborne.

But Mr Maroc acknowledged the worst-case scenario was that the ship could break up.

"It's naive to ignore the risks but we are making our best effort to recover that ship," he said.

Divers yesterday confirmed the vessel had dug itself into a 4m trench on one side.

Mr Maroc said aside from cracks in a fuel and water ballast tank, no further damage was apparent.

Removing the ship's 690 tonnes of heavy fuel oil and diesel begins today, with inflatable barges expected to transfer it onto the HMNZS Endeavour.

Mr Maroc said the salvor planned to remove about a fifth of the pine logs on board before towing the lightened vessel to a port to be decided upon by the owner.

Clean-up costs for the oil spill, which has soiled an 8km stretch of Gisborne's coastline, have almost topped $200,000. The ship's owner will be expected to pay.

The authority's on-scene commander, John Lee-Richards, said it was unclear exactly how much oil had leaked from one of the five fuel tanks, but estimated up to 40 tonnes may have escaped since Friday afternoon.

"The oil has for all intents and purposes stopped coming out of the ship," Mr Lee-Richards said yesterday.

A 24-hour pumping operation began on Saturday to empty the damaged fuel tank and a labour-intensive beach clean-up is also under way.

Department of Conservation staff estimate about 75 red-billed seagulls have slight oiling, but only one bird has required treatment so far.

Waikanae, Midway and Kaiti beaches remain closed and the public have been warned not to eat shellfish from Poverty Bay or touch any oil.