Salvage crews will today be able to board a ship that ran aground off the coast of Banks Peninsula near Christchurch 11 days ago.
The Austro Carina, a 25-metre vessel, has been left to break apart on the rocks, with 10,000 litres of marine diesel and 400 litres of hydraulic oil on board.
The forecast for good weather means response teams can now attempt to remove the remaining fuel on board at 3pm today.
Speaking to Breakfast this morning, Environment Canterbury's Emma Parr said there has been no sign of any oil spill for three days.
"What we have been seeing is really positive. It is unlikely that there is a large amount of fuel remaining on that vessel," she told 1News.
"For the first time in 11 days, we have the opportunity, with the conditions, to get some of the salvors onto the vessel to check for remaining fuel and remove it if there is any."
Parr says aerial observations and daily monitoring suggest that fuel which has leaked into the ocean is heading out to sea and not towards sensitive endangered marine life areas.
"The vessel was carrying marine diesel oil. Diesel on water flashes off the surface of the water quite well and quite quickly, causing less detrimental effects on shoreline impacts and wildlife," she said.
"This is one of the most remote and exposed places on the Southeast Coast in the Banks Peninsula area. We have many endangered and sensitive species in the area."
Removing the wreck itself is the responsibility of the ship's owner, who ECAN said have been proactive and engaged in their response.
"They have come up with a plan to board the vessel to sound out the tanks and see if there is any remaining fuel on board.
They may need divers to remove that fuel; it's unknown. They're the experts in that field."
Parr says it was apparent from day 1 that a re-float would not be possible for a vessel of this size and its location.
They also don't have the required equipment in the country.
"This is a wreck removal. It's likely the vessel will be removed in pieces, in small windows of opportunity as the conditions allow, when it is safe to do so,” Parr said.
They expect the removal of the ship to take months.
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