No harm from sinking

The swamped Jane Marie off Holmes Wharf, Oamaru. PHOTO: SHANNON GILLIES
The swamped Jane Marie off Holmes Wharf, Oamaru. PHOTO: SHANNON GILLIES
No environmental harm was caused by the sinking of Jane Marie off Oamaru's Holmes Wharf, Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) says.

The boat sank late on February 9, after it ran aground on rocks on the seaward side of the wharf.

The Otago Regional Council (ORC) deployed response equipment around Oamaru Harbour to collect any spilt fuel in what is a particularly sensitive environment.

Near Holmes Wharf are two penguin colonies and habitats for spotted shags, the Otago shag and white-fronted terns.

A MNZ spokesman said feedback from ORC and the diver completing the salvage of the vessel was there was no environmental issues caused by the boat.

``The tanks have gone. The hull has gone. The tanks contained a light diesel fuel and that evaporates very quickly.''

At the time of the sinking, ORC on-scene commander Scott MacLean said it was believed Jane Marie was carrying about 500 litres of fuel.

Jane Marie owner Jeremy Hatherly said he was pleased to have the confirmation no damage was done.

``It wasn't a great surprise, but it's good, obviously.''

Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony research scientist Philippa Agnew was pleased with the findings and also with how the response played out during the first few days of risk.

``We didn't see any damage. There weren't any birds impacted.

``It's pretty good for those Otago shags on Sumpter Wharf. They're pretty rare. If that spill had been serious, potentially that's a large portion of that species that could have been affected.''

The MNZ investigation into the sinking continues.

shannon.gillies@odt.co.nz

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