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A 23m fishing boat which washed up on Ninety Mile Beach with about 8000 litres of diesel on board could have to be broken up to remove it from the beach.
The Kumea II was driven by big seas on to the beach at Waipapakauri Ramp, northwest of Kaitaia on Monday and abandoned by its crew.
The Westpac Rescue Helicopter took the four crew members off the vessel safely when it started taking on water and its motor failed 11km off the southern end of the beach.
None of the crew was hurt or needed medical treatment.
The wooden-hulled longliner was yesterday being battered by big surf and strong westerly winds at about the half tide mark, as insurance assessors, salvage experts and Northland Regional Council staff waited for a chance to get on board to examine it.
The regional council's deputy harbourmaster, Jim Lyle, said the priority was to contain and recover diesel fuel left on the boat and then organise the Kumea II's recovery or salvage from the beach.
He said it might have to be destroyed or broken up so it could be removed in pieces.
"It can't be left there," Mr Lyle said.
"We were lucky it came up so close to the ramp and road access to the beach."
The area is popular for shellfish gathering, surfcasting and swimming.
Mr Lyle said an unknown amount of diesel escaped from the boat overnight on Monday, but had apparently dispersed in rough seas and strong winds.
He said staff could only get access to the boat for an hour at each low tide.
Mr Lyle said "lifting gear" would be on site this afternoon but because the boat was now filled with tonnes of sand and water recovering it in one piece would be difficult.
Debris from the 24-year-old boat, including buoys, fish bins and other equipment, was being picked up from the beach yesterday.
