Stranded ship starts to break apart

The ship which ran aground on a reef off the coast of New Zealand and has already spilled 300 tonnes of oil began breaking up in heavy seas today.

Salvage experts are battling to stop a further 1,700 tonnes of oil leaking from the container ship after large cracks appeared in the hull overnight.

Today about 70 of the 1,300 containers being carried by Rena toppled into the sea as the ship listed over on the Astrolabe reef, which is near Tauranga in the Bay of Plenty. The ship ran aground last Wednesday.

Forecasters are predicting even worse weather is on the way, with storms likely to hit the area over the weekend.

Thick slicks of oil drifting from the vessel have washed ashore on beaches. Hundreds of rare birds and other wildlife have already died after being covered by the fuel.

New Zealand prime minister John Key said the deterioration of the ship was now clear, threatening devastation to a treasured stretch of coastline.

Salvage adviser Jon Walker, who was on board until huge waves and swells of about 16 feet forced his team to evacuate, said: "We are hoping that it's still on the reef.

"If we can keep it on it we can deal with it. If there is a break-up of the~ vessel, we are going to have oil coming out. Before we left we tried to blank all the tanks."

Mr Key said New Zealand taxpayers may have to cover the costs if Rena's insurance was unable to do so.

He defended the government's reaction to the stranding. "I know everyone would love us to wave a magic wand but that's not possible," he said.

He added there was a national plan for such disasters and that it had been put into action the moment the boat hit the reef: "I understand people are frustrated. I'm frustrated too. Unfortunately we have to deal with the cards dealt to us."

A boom across the Maketu estuary appeared to be effective but Mr Key said: "We may well see more oil in the estuary."

The ship's captain, a 44-year-old Filipino who has not been named, has appeared in court charged with operating a vessel in a manner causing unnecessary danger or risk. He has been released on bail.

The captain's lawyer, Paul Mabey, requested that Judge Robert Wolff suppress his client's name because, he said, "there is a real potential that some persons may want to take matters into their own hands", the New Zealand Herald reported on its website.

It also reported that the grounding happened on the captain's birthday.

If convicted, the captain could face a fine and 12 months in prison.

The government has demanded to know why the ship crashed into the well-charted reef in calm weather but the vessel's owner has given no explanation.