The captain of the cargo ship that has leaked hundreds of tons of oil off the northern coast of New Zealand appeared in court on Wednesday, according to media reports.
The tanker has been stranded off the coast of the North Island for a week and fears have escalated that it might break up even more and leak its entire supply into the sea. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, 1,300 tons could leak along with the 200 to 300 tons that have already spilled.
The captain, a Filipino national whose identity was not disclosed, faces a 12-monthlong prison sentence and a steep fine if convicted. He was charged with “operating a vessel in a manner causing unnecessary danger or risk,” according to the newspaper.
The disaster response agency, Maritime New Zealand, said the crack in the ship was a “substantial structural failure” after it hit the Astrolabe reef, according to The Associated Press. It warned that the stern of the ship may break off.
As of Wednesday, the agency’s primary response is cleaning up the spill. “Until now, we have had a light oiling of beaches,” Maritime NZ Commander Nick Quinn told AP. “This will significantly increase as more oil washes ashore over the coming days.”
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