Port of Tauranga

Port Operations Update

Posted on 17th October 2011

As mentioned on Saturday, the Port of Tauranga / Navy side scan sonar and magnetometer are producing excellent results in terms of our ability to detect sub-surface objects. The magnetometer can detect full containers from a distance of over 250m and broken up containers at nearly 200m distance. We can detect the containers under the surface, mid water column or on the seabed.

The side scan sonar has confirmed many of the containers that were towed to the corralling sites have since sunk. The salvors plan to recover these containers in due course. The Pancaldo is in port and preparing for the container recovery operation.

No further containers have been lost overboard and there are no containers or oil in the shipping lanes, which remain open.

The morning and evening helicopter surveys are continuing and will update you directly if the situation changes with respect to marine operations.