Cargo ship wrecked off New Zealand

The grounded container ship Rena is seen in the Bay of Plenty off New Zealand's North Island resort area of Tauranga on January 9, 2012 after it broke in two in a storm. The cargo ship ran aground on Astrolabe Reef three months ago, causing New Zealand's worst maritime pollution disaster as is spewed oil and debris. On Sunday January 8, the ship broke in two in a storm, raising fears of a fresh environmental crisis.

A shipping container washes ashore on Waihi beach in the Bay of Plenty on January 9, 2012 a day after the cargo ship Rena broke up in a storm. Shipping was being warned away as up to 300 containers were washed from the wreck. Salvage workers said on January 8 there was a strong likelihood the stern section would capsize.

The Liberian cargo ship Rena foundered on October 5, 2011 13.5 nautical miles off the coast of Tauranga, New Zealand.

New Zealand Defence Force via Getty Images

A wide fracture is seen October 20, 2011 on the starboard side of the stranded cargo vessel Rena grounded on the Astrolabe Reef in Tauranga, New Zealand. Salvage crews pumped oil off the ship in an effort to remove as much as possible before the onset of bad weather threatening to break the vessel and release more oil into the sea. Over 300 tons of oil leaked from Rena since it hit the reef on October 5.

The bow section of the stranded cargo vessel Rena grounded on the Astrolabe Reef is seen on October 18, 2011 in Tauranga, New Zealand.

A line taking oil from the stranded cargo vessel Rena to the oil tanker Awanuia is supported by buoys, October 21, 2011 in Tauranga, New Zealand.

The stricken ship the Rena is pounded by waves on October 13, 2011 in Tauranga, New Zealand.

Fuel pumping between the stranded cargo vessel Rena and the oil tanker Awanuia continues on October 20, 2011 in Tauranga, New Zealand.

Salvors remove shipping containers from the Rena container ship aground on the Astrolabe Reef on November 17, 2011 in Tauranga, New Zealand. The process of removing containers is weather-dependent and was expected to take several months.

A helicopter sits on a pad on the Rena as salvors remove shipping containers from the Rena container ship aground on the Astrolabe Reef on November 17, 2011 in Tauranga, New Zealand.

Salvors remove shipping containers from the Rena container ship aground on the Astrolabe Reef on November 17, 2011 in Tauranga, New Zealand.

The Papamoa Beach is coated in oil from the stricken ship Rena on October 13, 2011 in Tauranga, New Zealand. The ship's Filipino captain has been charged and is facing an NZ$10,000 fine or 12 months jail. New Zealand officials are calling this the worst maritime environmental disaster in the country's history and predict it is likely to worsen before it improves.

Soldiers continue cleanup operations after more oil from the stricken vessel Rena washed up along the Bay of Plenty coastline on October 13, 2011 in Tauranga, New Zealand.

The grounded container ship Rena is seen in the Bay of Plenty near Tauranga on January 9, 2012 after it broke in two in a storm. A team of oil-spill and wildlife specialists has been mobilized as oil again began flowing from the Rena, which has been stuck on Astrolabe Reef off the North Island resort area of Tauranga since October 5.

Half of the grounded container ship Rena is seen in the Bay of Plenty near Tauranga on January 9, 2012 after it broke in two in a storm.

The grounded container ship Rena is seen in the Bay of Plenty near Tauranga on January 9, 2012 after it broke in two in a storm. A team of oil-spill and wildlife specialists has been mobilized as oil again began flowing from the sgip.

The grounded container ship Rena is seen in the Bay of Plenty near Tauranga on January 9, 2012 after it broke in two in a storm.

Half of the grounded container ship Rena is seen in the Bay of Plenty near Tauranga on January 9, 2012 after it broke in two in a storm.

The grounded container ship Rena is seen in the Bay of Plenty near Tauranga on January 9, 2012 after it broke in two in a storm.

Shipping containers are seen floating in the Bay of Plenty near Tauranga on January 9, 2012 where the grounded container ship Rena broke in two in a storm. The cargo ship which caused New Zealand's worst maritime pollution disaster when it ran aground three months ago broke in two in a storm on January 8, 2012, raising fears of a fresh environmental crisis.

Residents check on washed-up containers at Waihi Beach on January 9, 2012 in Tauranga, New Zealand. Floating containers and debris have been washed ashore after Rena split in two during high seas. To date the Rena has spilled 350 tons of oil and almost 100 shipping containers.

Lifeguards patrol Waihi Beach on January 9, 2012 in Tauranga, New Zealand, after containers and debris washed ashore after the Rena split in two.

Heavy machinery is used to move shipping containers that have come ashore on Waihi beach in the Bay of Plenty on January 9, 2012. Shipping was being warned away as up to 300 containers were washed from the wreck. Salvage workers said on January 8 there was a strong likelihood the stern section would capsize.

Residents look upon washed-up containers at Waihi Beach on January 9, 2012 in Tauranga, New Zealand.

Bags of milk powder lie washed up at Waihi Beach on January 9, 2012 in Tauranga, New Zealand.

Volunteers clean up bags of milk powder at Waihi Beach on January 9, 2012 in Tauranga, New Zealand.

Milk powder bags which were transported aboard the grounded container ship Rena and washed ashore are collected by volunteers cleaning Waihi Beach facing the Bay of Plenty near Tauranga on January 9, 2012, where the ship broke in two in a storm.

A clump of oil lies washed up on Waihi Beach on January 9, 2012 in Tauranga, New Zealand.

A boy jumps over washed-up bags of milk powder at Waihi Beach on January 9, 2012 in Tauranga, New Zealand.