Navy: poor knights islands clean-up operation
Overview: The Navy’s diving support vessel, HMNZS MANAWANUI arrived in the vicinity of the Poor Knights Islands Group
yesterday and commenced a visual search assisted by a Skywork Helicopter.
HMNZS MANAWANUI and the recovery of toxic substances packages or pods.
Specialists from Genera Ltd inspecting the pods thoroughly with a gas detector. Readings ranged from 0.3ppm to zero with
an average of 0.08ppm. Safe workplace level for 0.3ppm level is eight hours.
There were a number of false alarms, including dense concentrations of algae and floating clumps of seaweed. The first
toxic pod (group of three) was located and the ship’s RHIB (small boat) was vectored to the pods by the helicopter. The
pods were boat-hooked and towed back to the ship and inspected more closely, including a more thorough gas detector
test. A total of 13 pods were recovered yesterday.
Onboard are specialists from Maritime Safety Authority (MSA), NZ Fire Service and fumigation contractor, Genera Ltd.
Today, Tuesday April 5, MANAWANUI has returned to the recovery area to continue the search for more pods and will be
assisted again by the helicopter.