Oil leak at Napier Port escapes containment efforts

HBT134396-02.JPG Napier Port, Breakwater Road, Napier. Reporter: Mark Story Photographer: Glenn Taylor NEWS

An oil spill at Napier Port was partially contained by wind yesterday, but most of the light oil could not be recovered.

Hawke's Bay Regional Council (HBRC) staff were called to the port at 3.15pm yesterday after automatic transmission fluid spilled from a crane on land.

HBRC resource management group manager Iain Maxwell said an estimated 100 litres of oil entered the water alongside No 4 wharf.

"Fortunately the crews caught it early," he said.

Napier Port staff put a boom in the water to contain the spill.

He said most of the oil emulsified into the choppy water and westerly winds, gusting to 40 knots, helped confine the remaining oil within the boom at the corner of No 2 wharf where it was recovered.

Maritime New Zealand was notified and a wildlife team put in place. The team was stood down at 7.30pm.

In November, council, port staff and the Coastguard had held an oil spill training exercise at the same location.

The Maritime Transport Act requires the council to complete two oil-spill exercises a year.

A 300m boom is now stored on the wharf, meaning its deployment takes just 30 minutes with two people, compared with the previous 90 minutes and up to eight people.

Any oil washed up on nearby beaches will be recovered by the HBRC.