A series of errors, shortcuts and poor naval practice put the Rena on a crash-course to disaster, ultimately forcing the ship on to the Astrolabe Reef.
The captain and officer neglected their duties in the lead-up to the grounding and then altered ship documents in an attempt to mislead authorities.
Yesterday's court sentencing was supposed to be the time when justice was served.
It was supposed to be the time when, after nearly eight months, the two men responsible for the disaster would be held to account and serve a punishment that fit the crime.
It should have been a moment when the people of the Western Bay, the people most badly affected, could feel some sort of closure.
Instead, the people of the Bay have been hugely let down. Seven months does not even come close to fitting the crime.
Others agree. We asked community leaders and others what they thought of the sentences last night.
Rena clean-up leader Steve Courtney's response: "Is that it? That's not much, eh."
"I'm pretty numb, eh. It's not what I would call a victory."
Michelle Crawford, a Mt Maunganui resident, described the sentences as "... just appalling... just disappointing really".
Judge Robert Wolff faced a challenging task yesterday. He had the country's media spotlight firmly shining on him.
He had the prosecutors and defence teams making their submissions.
Whatever he decided was going to come under the microscope.
But he has not been tough enough, especially given the captain tried to cover it up.
In the meantime, work continues to clean up the mess these two men created.
It will be months, if not years, according to officials, before the total mess is fully cleaned up.
The Rena incident looks set to be a blight, a scar, on our local landscape.
These jail terms have done little to heal the wound.
