Jody F Millennium Update

February 13, 2002

· This morning the salvage team successfully repositioned the Jody F's bow 30 degrees out to sea to improve the ships ability to handle bad weather and prepare for a possible refloating at high tide tonight.

· The Salvage Master is deballasting the Jody F to provide improved buoyancy. Oil on the vessel, which has not been able to be taken off the ship, is now being transferred internally from the bottom tanks to the upper tanks.

· From midday the salvor will use two helicopters to transport logs from the Jody F to the Juken Nissho Ltd mill site, in Gisborne. This may continue for some time and will create considerable noise.

· The transfer of oil from the Jody F to the HMNZS Endeavour continued until 2.00 am, when strong winds made the transfer operation unsafe. The transfer of oil ceased and the Endeavour departed Gisborne port. It is now anchored at sea where it is waiting to respond as needed.

· Some 200 tonnes of oil is believed to have been transferred from the Jody F, most of which was safely transferred to HMNZS Endeavour. The remainder is in barges moored safely in Gisborne port, or on the quayside.

· A deep depression lying east of Gisborne is forecast to hit Poverty Bay tonight. This depression will bring galeforce winds by noon with strong seas by late afternoon. These conditions are expected to remain for between one and two days.

· When the salvor attempts to pull the ship out of its present position and away from the shore, there is likely to be residual oil underneath and around the ship that may come ashore. The MSA has prepared resources to manage this.

· Booms are ready to protect key areas as required.

· Three teams are working in conjunction with local iwi, to set up a precautionary boom in the entrance of the Wherowhero Lagoon area. Teams are working to clean up a few small tar balls found at the high tide mark.

· Ngai Tamanuhiri have put a rahui on the Wherowhero Lagoon area.

· An Australian Maritime Safety Authority beach expert undertook a rigorous beach assessment. Cawthron Institute staff surveyed the shoreline around Kaiti Beach, Sponge Bay and beyond to assess the environmental impact of the spill.

· The public is asked not to touch oiled birds for their own safety. Please report any sightings to 025 230 5105.

· Regional council staff are on standby as a contingency for rapid response as required.

· The estimated cost of the clean-up operation to date is around $500,000. The spiller is liable for this cost.

© Scoop Media