Black Tide: The story behind the Rena disaster by John Julian

‘This is a book I didn’t want to write because it is the story of an accident that has been waiting to happen for many years.’ — John Julian

On Wednesday 5 October 2011 the 236-metre-long container ship Rena was on her way to Tauranga carrying 1368 containers, 1700 tonnes of heavy fuel oil and 200 tonnes of marine diesel. At 2.20am she crashed into and was impaled on the Astrolabe Reef, beginning one of the biggest salvage operations and environmental disasters in New Zealand history.

The result is a story of a shipwreck, and a devastating oil spill, it’s also a story of underfunding and the consequent lack of preparation, excessive bureaucracy and obsession with process, and the unfolding saga of the salvage and wreck removal.

Black Tide looks at the catastrophic environmental disaster and its cost. Estimates for the Rena clean up have been in excess of $150 million and, with 20,000 birds dead from the oil spill and approximately 2325 tonnes of waste collected since the Rena ran aground on October 5, that bill is looking like one of the most expensive in New Zealand’s maritime history. Part of this economic and environmental bill will be met by the New Zealand taxpayers.

In Black Tide John Julian investigates the real story behind the Rena catastrophe and attempts to answer the many questions surrounding the disaster. What really happened on that fateful night and why did the Rena run aground? Who is responsible? What could be done better and faster? Is New Zealand able to effectively respond to maritime disasters?

Above all, what can be done to stop this happening again?

Includes 30 colour photographs

About the author:

John Julian specialises in maritime writing. His previous books include Super Yachts and From Salvage Tug to Super Yacht: The Lone Ranger Story, as well as writing regularly for various yachting magazines.  He currently lives in Waiuku, New Zealand.

Published by Hodder Moa, 20 April 2012, RRP $39.99