Stranded Cargo Ship Breaks, Bodes Oil Spill off New Zealand

The Rena cargo ship, stranded for months, has now been broken into two by high seas. Photo by EPA/BGNES

The cargo ship Rena, which has since October 5 been stranded on a coral reef off the coast of New Zealand, has broken up into two, throwing massive debris into the water.

After a major sea storm in the area, causing 6 meter tall waves to crash onto the body of the ship, it broke into two parts, which have now drifted off some 30 m from each other.

Dozens of containers have started falling off into the water, and a second oil spill is feared because of the breakup.

Since its running aground Rena has caused an oil spill which has already been labelled as the greatest environmental disaster in the history of New Zealand.

Emergency teams have been sent off to minimalize the effects from the accident.

The staff of the ship face a number of court charges over the stranding, which happened on a very well marked reef.

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