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Home / Bay of Plenty Times

Mobil to face court after oil spill

By Kiri Gillespie
Bay of Plenty Times·
15 May, 2016 08:36 PMQuick Read

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Clean up at Pilot Bay after Mobil Oil Spill. Photo/file

Clean up at Pilot Bay after Mobil Oil Spill. Photo/file

Fuel giant Mobil Oil New Zealand will appear in Tauranga District Court today after an oil spill which leached into the city's harbour last year.

The fuel company is expected to be sentenced on charges relating to an oil spill in Tauranga Harbour on April 27, 2015.

About 1500 litres of fuel leaked into the Harbour, reaching Pilot Bay, during a ship bunkering operation from two corrosion holes about 4mm wide in a 150mm wide lateral pipeline.

A clean-up crew of about 70 people worked to clean up oil which coated shorelines at Maungatapu and Bridge Marina.

Workers included staff from Bay of Plenty Regional Council and Tauranga City Council, Ministry for Primary Industries fisheries officers, Envirowaste, trained oil responders from Waikato Regional Council and volunteers from local iwi/hapu and the community.

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The oil was also believed to have coated a black shag in oil which died two days later.

Regional council workers Nathan Capper left and Reece Irving tying up bags. Photo/George Novak
Regional council workers Nathan Capper (left) and Reece Irving tying up bags. Photo/George Novak
Regional council workers Nathan Capper (left) and Reece Irving tying up bags. Photo/George Novak
Regional council workers Nathan Capper (left) and Reece Irving tying up bags. Photo/George Novak
Regional council workers Reece Irving left Nathan Capper and Richard Lyons. Photo/George Novak
Regional council workers Nathan Capper and Reece Irving tying up bags. Photo/George Novak
Maungatapu oil spill clean up. 28 April 2015 Bay of Plenty Times Photograph by George Novak
Maungatapu oil spill clean up. Photo/George Novak
Maungatapu oil spill clean up. Photo/George Novak
Oil spill covers boats in the Tauranga Harbour. Photo/John Borren.
Maungatapu oil spill clean up. Photo/George Novak
Oil spill covers boats in the Tauranga Harbour. Photo/John Borren.
Heavy oil in the Tauranga Harbour. Photo/John Borren.
Heavy oil in the Tauranga Harbour. Photo/John Borren.
Keen fisherman Aaron Layne picks up clumps of oil from the Tauranga Harbour. Photo/John Borren

Image 1 of 15: Regional council workers Nathan Capper left and Reece Irving tying up bags. Photo/George Novak

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