Rena Oil Spill: A Brief History On October 5, 2011, an oil spill
began off the coast of New Zealand that would become what many
describe as the country's worst maritime environmental disaster.
When the MV Rena tanker (owned by Greek shipping company
Costamare Inc.) ran aground on Astrolabe Reef 12 miles off the
coast of New Zealand's North Island, an leak of fuel and diesel
oil eventually spilled 93,000 gallons into the Bay of Plenty.
The disaster killed thousands of birds, with some death
estimates as high as 20,000. Some species, such as the New
Zealand dotterels, were preemptively captured and sequestered
for their own survival. Some dotterels weren't so lucky; a
number died of respiratory infections due to the spill. Many
local residents disregarded orders from the goverment and began
to organize cleanup efforts. Five thousand volunteers were
involved in cleaning the bay's shoreline. Although signs of the
ship splitting in two were reported as early as Oct. 12, the
Rena eventually broke apart in January.