Ship stuck on Astrolabe Reef (+ video) | Bay of Plenty News | Local News in Bay of Plenty

People are flocking to Mount Maunganui Main Beach and Omanu Beach after a large cargo ship struck a reef near the Tauranga Harbour this morning.

Authorities are assessing whether oil has spilled from the 236m cargo vessel Rena struck the Astrolabe Reef, north of Motiti Island, around 2.20am.

Regional Harbour Master Carl Magazinovic has directed all unauthorised vessels to stay at least 1 kilometre (0.62 miles) clear of the Astrolabe Reef and the grounded ship until further notice.

Mr Magazinovic said there were already reports of 'sightseeing vessels' near the grounded ship, potentially causing safety issues and disrupting response efforts.

"This situation is expected to continue for some time so we will be monitoring movement of vessels around the area, and anyone found breaching the exclusion zone could face a fine of up to $20,000."

Maritime New Zealand declared a Tier 3 Response, due to the size and complexity of the grounding, and is managing the operation through the Incident Command Centre established at Mount Maunganui.

There are no reported injuries to the 25 crew on board.

Maritime New Zealand has reported that an aerial flight this morning has identified a light oil sheen on the surface of the water near the grounded vessel off the coast of Tauranga.

The oil sheen has been assessed as hydraulic oil from the vessel's engine. All the fuel tanks are still intact.

A Maritime New Zealand spokesperson said that the vessel is on a 10 degree list, or lean, but is stable on the reef. As a precautionary measure, fuel in tanks on the port side is being transferred to the starboard side.

Pumps are also in operation to remove water from the cargo holds.

The ship's captain is in discussion with the ship's owner and salvage experts to assess how best to move the ship off the reef - this is expected to take some time.

A precautionary oil spill response team of trained spill responders, as well as specialist equipment are assessing the situation.

A Waikato Regional Council staff member is also travelling to the Bay of Plenty to help with the Maritime New Zealand response.

The council's marine oil spill team is monitoring the situation and will be on standby in case the grounding results in any threats to the Waikato region's eastern coastline or if other assistance is requested in the Bay of Plenty.

The Rena is on a 12 degree lean, with two of its cargo holds flooded.

Weather conditions are hazy at the moment and the Astrolabe Reef, where the ship has struck is too far out to be visible from the shore.

Maritime New Zealand spokeswoman Sophie Hazelhurst told APN News & Media this morning that it is understood the tanks containing the ship's heavy fuel oil are undamaged.

"However Maritime New Zealand has activated its marine pollution response service" she says.

MNZ's Maritime Incident Response Team (MIRT), comprising technical maritime experts, is monitoring the situation closely from Wellington and has a Maritime Safety Inspector on board the vessel assessing the damage.

In August, the 22-year-old vessel was detained for a day in Freemantle, Western Australia, by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority after "serious deficiencies" were found on the ship.

The authority's report found the vessel had "not been maintained between surveys", the "hatchway cover securing arrangements defective" and cargo was not stowed and secured as stipulated in the cargo securing manual.

The vessel was released after these issues were addressed.