Fuel Removed From Stranded Ship Near New Caledonia

The pumping of fuel off a large stranded container ship near New Caledonia has been completed. The French High Commission in Noumea said 540,000 litres of fuel had been pumped out of the almost 200-metre-long Kea Trader which ran onto a reef near the island of Mare a month ago. The High Commissioner Thierry Lataste said the risk of any major pollution had now been averted.

Depending on the weather, cranes on salvage vessels will be able to remove containers off the ship. Otherwise helicopters will be used to remove them to help facilitate the refloating of the vessel. The Kea Trader, which is a new Chinese-built ship registered in Malta, ran onto the Durand Reef a month ago for yet reasons while travelling from French Polynesia to Noumea. The stranding caused disruption to business activities in New Caledonia.