• The Marine Pollution Advisory Committee continues to monitor the situation at Tafitoala where HMNZS Manawanui sank, even throughout the White Sunday public holiday.
• Teams from MWTI, MNRE, MAF, SPA as well as our SPPCS have been dispatched since Sunday October 6, 2024 and have been based at Tafitoala Response Headquarters since then conducting ongoing assessments.
• The 3 containers continue to cause damage to the reef, as significant movement from one of these containers was observed over the weekend drifting some 100 meters inwards.
• The New Zealand Defense Force are currently looking into options to remove the said containers to ensure the damage to the reef is minimized, as well as developing a plan to safely remove the oil from the ship without further contaminating the environment.
• As of 8am Tuesday, the divers confirm that there is still a consistent slow leak of diesel fuel into our oceans.
• Ongoing shoreline assessment by the Committee confirms there continues to be no signs of oil slicks washing ashore or onto beaches (areas visited include Tafitoala, Vaiee Bay, Salamumu, Nuusuatia, Lotofaga, Sataoa and Saanapu) . All claims of diesel fuel contaminated events are being verified by the Committee.
• Samples of sea water, fish and algae from across this area have been taken and submitted to SROS for contamination testing.
• The fishing precautionary zone at Safata continues to be enforced. The communities in the area are strongly advised not to fish from the area until further notice. We acknowledge and recognize the loss of income and loss of food source due to this incident.
• A second community consultation will take place this week, October 17 2024, 10:30AM at Tafitoala.
• So far, a total of 90 families in Safata have been consulted as part of follow up exercises with the affected community and consultations are continuing.
• The public residing in the affected area is encouraged to report any debris and/or diesel fuel washing up onshore, as well as any signs of marine life affected by oil slick or debris to Tualamaalii Wendy Pogi on phone number +685 7708264 or email wendy.pogi@mwti.gov.ws
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CAPTIONS ;
Figure 1 Manawanui anchor still sitting on the reef, with its chain causing significant damage to our reefs as it sways with the currents.
Figure 2 & 3 Ongoing shoreline assessment by MNRE, MAF and MWTI confirms no diesel fuel slicks washing up on the beaches
Figure 4&5 Diesel fuel slicks observed from aerial shots drifting with the wind and currents
