Pinoy captain of ship in New Zealand oil spill out on bail

UPDATED 4:50 p.m. - The Filipino captain of the container ship that leaked oil into New Zealand waters is out on bail after being arrested and charged in court for “operating a vessel in a manner causing unnecessary damage or risk." A report of Reuters on Wednesday said the stricken container ship wedged on a reef off a New Zealand holiday destination sparked fears that "the vessel may break up spewing more fuel-oil on to beaches in the country's worst environmental disaster in decades." Reuters said the charges against the 44-year-old Filipino carried a maximum fine of NZ$10,000 ($7,810) or 12 months in prison. The ship that the Filipino was manning —the Liberian-flagged "Rena" — hit the Astrolabe Reef off the Tauranga port last week. In a text message to GMA News Online, Foreign Affairs spokesperson Raul Hernandez said on Wednesday that members of Rena's all-Filipino crew "are safe and sound." Eight crewmembers arrived in Manila last Monday, while 11 others will be repatriated "either tomorrow or the day after," he added. "The captain, second mate, and four others will stay behind," read the text message, which also said that there are "no reports on the court hearing yet." According to BBC, “it is not clear how the vessel ran aground on a well-marked reef in calm weather." BBC said Tauranga District Court Judge Robert Wolff approved the request to keep the captain’s identity under wraps “because people ‘might want to take matters into their own hands.’" ‘Worst in decades’ Concern is building up about the incident because more than 30 oil containers reportedly fell off the ship, which has been beaten by heavy swells and strong winds for two days. BBC also quoted New Zealand Prime Minister John Key as saying the ship is susceptible to splitting. The vessel allegedly carries 11 containers “with hazardous substances in them," out of more than a thousand loaded in it. BBC reported that Environment Minister Nick Smith referred to the incident as “New Zealand’s most significant maritime environmental disaster," adding that the oil spill is now “fivefold" worse. Oil spill Reuters reported that oil has spread along 25 kilometers of the district’s beaches. Hundreds of people—including soldiers—“were scraping the clumps of thick, toxic, fuel oil, some as large as dinner plates, into plastic bags and large bins." “Hundreds of dead seabirds have been recovered and teams of naturalists have scrubbed and treated scores more for oil contamination," the report added. According to Auckland University marine biologist Barbara Bollard-Breen, the incident may “not only affect some of our most pristine coastal areas… but also estuaries and already threatened marine habitats." A floating crane, which will be used to remove containers from the vessel, will take at least two weeks to arrive from Singapore. The ship is deemed to be recovered by its owner, Daina Shipping, a unit of Greece’s Costamare, Inc. Plans for removal, however, still need official approval. - with a report from Reuters, VVP, GMA News