The Waikato Regional Council is investigating a diesel sheen at Shortland Wharf, Thames, after a 12-metre steel boat sank there on Sunday.
A staff member raised the alarm yesterday afternoon. “A smell was detected and a light sheen was seen on the water,” said Regional On Scene Commander Celeste Davies-Calway. The council has since laid oil spill booms to soak up the fuel and is working out how far the contamination has spread.
Davies-Calway said the wreck had shown no sign of leaking since it went down. The council is chasing salvors to raise and remove MV Gleaner, which goes fully underwater at high tide and breaks the surface at low.
The wharf sits among wetlands and coastal habitat. “This is an area of significant conservation value,” Davies-Calway said. “We are keen to get out there and identify and protect any areas at risk.”
We have reached out to the Council for more information, but have not yet heard back.
