This was particularly problematic in the case of the 3,032-teu Rena (built 1990). Keith Manch, chief executive of Maritime New Zealand, admitted that when the Rena ran aground on the Astrolabe reef in October 2011, New Zealand had no assets available to deal with the casualty. The country, although well equipped to deal with oil pollution, had to reach out to the international community for kit to deal with a grounded boxship
Francis Leckey, senior salvage master at Resolve Salvage & Fire, noted that years ago salvage companies kept tugs on station to deal with casualties but the current economic environment makes it hard to keep vessels sitting idle and not generating income.
