HOT-New Zealand oil ship leak 'raises questions'

New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key says "serious questions" must be answered about why a container ship ran aground on a reef off one of the country's most spectacular coastlines.

Oil leaking from the Liberian-flagged Rena has created a 5-km (3-mile) slick.

An all-out effort is under way to remove nearly 2,000 tonnes of oil from the vessel, which is stranded 12 nautical miles off the coast.

Heavy swells and gale-force winds are forecast for the area from Monday.

Officials say 20-30 tonnes of oil have spilled into the Bay of Plenty, one of the country's top tourist destinations, since the MV Rena ran aground on Wednesday.

If the ship breaks up, it could release 1,700 tonnes of heavy fuel into an area that is home to whales, dolphins, seals, penguins and a variety of other birds.
source BBC

Tags: New Zealand oil ship leak 'raises questions', the potential to be a significant environmental impact", Oil leaking from the Liberian-flagged Rena