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Nau mai, haere mai.
The sinking of a Navy ship in Samoan waters brings back memories of the 2011 Rena disaster off the Tauranga coast. The cargo ship ran aground on the Astrolabe reef and sank with hundreds of containers and 1,700 tonnes of heavy fuel oil. About a fifth of the oil spilled into the sea and contaminated beaches.
In comparison, the wreck of HMNZS Manawanui off the south coast of Upolu, Samoa’s most populated island, poses a lesser risk. As coastal scientist Chris Battershill writes, the Navy vessel carried a much lighter fuel whose most toxic components are likely to evaporate.
Nevertheless, for the local people who depend on the sea to provide healthy food, the sinking of the Manawanui is a disaster. The speed of the salvage operation will ultimately determine the level of damage to the environment.
The team’s focus will be on recovering as much fuel as possible, but Battershill raises another concern: the collision with the reef may have exposed old layers of an anti-fouling paint which is now banned because of its lasting toxicity to marine life. Only a thorough and speedy cleanup of the wrecked ship can prevent major damage to the reef.
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Veronika Meduna
Science, Health + Environment New Zealand Editor
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Christopher Battershill, University of Waikato
Damage from the loss of a New Zealand naval ship in Samoa can be limited if salvage and cleanup crews move fast. But the depth at which the ship now lies will be a challenge.
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