Mobil Apologizes for Tauranga Spill

Mobil Oil New Zealand apologized for a bunkering incident at Port of Tauranga this Monday in which an undetermined amount of heavy fuel oil was spilled into the Bay of Plenty.

Mobil Oil New Zealand had performed the bunkering. Mobil’s New Zealand Country Manager Andrew McNaught announced an internal investigation.

”Initial visual inspection of the pipeline has taken place and indicates that the fuel oil leak occurred from two small corrosion holes in a 150 mm diameter lateral pipeline. This short section of pipe (approximately three metres long) branches off the main pipeline along the wharf which carries fuel oil for ship bunkering,” said Mobil Oil New Zealand Country Manager Andrew McNaught.

”This section of pipe has been removed and visually inspected, and has been provided to the Council today. Preliminary engineering assessment is that the failure of the pipe appears unusual. There is no evidence that the pipeline had been tampered with.”

Bay of Plenty Regional Council reported today that the containment of the heavy fuel oil has been successful and the local authorities are progressing with the cleanup.