Barge launch marks a New Zealand first
New Zealand has a new tool to combat significant marine oil spills, and it’s the first of its kind in the country.
Harry Duynhoven, Minister for Transport Safety has recently launched Taranui, New Zealand’s first oil skimmer barge, at Marsden Point Oil Refinery. “Since around the time of the Jody F Millennium spill (Gisborne 2002) we’ve been working with some of our partners to strengthen New Zealand’s extensive oil spill response arsenal,” Duynhoven said.
“Having the Taranui means that rather than waiting to collect oil during a big spill we can now go and try and recover it.”
 The barge, which is 8.2 metre long and costs around $200,000, is being leased by the New Zealand Refining Company for ten years and will be based at Marsden Point as part of their oil spill response plan. Its design and construction has been perfected by Maritime Safety Authority (MSA) for 18 months..
“She’ll be a fantastic tool when tackling a spill and be of real value in protecting our marine environment,” says MSA Manager Marine Pollution Response Service Nick Quinn
Posted by Editor Offshore Arabia Magazine
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