Codes of Survival -Scripts - a series of short factionalized stories based
on historical events in the Subantarctic Islands written by Lloyd Godman
to accompany the exhibition and installation - 1993 - © Lloyd Godman
Codes of
Survival - Scripts
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NUCLEAR CARRIER GROUNDED ON ISLAND ?????
Auckland Islands, New Zealand (Reuter). - The stricken nuclear
carrier Usaki Maru which struck a rocky outcrop on the craggy
western cliffs of the Auckland Islands lay stuck fast as dawn broke
in the area this morning. The vessel was still intact at this stage, but
fears of it breaking up were confirmed as storms continued to
lash the area.
The Liberian-registered carrier was blown onto the jaggered rocks
near Bristow Point on the south-western tip of the main Auckland
Island, south of New Zealand on thursday night and the vessel was
pounded by extreme hurricane-force winds through the night raising
fears of an environmental disaster. For the past week it had been
drifting immobilized in the southern ocean and all attempts to take the
vessel in tow by the escort ships had failed. Fierce storms with 10m
waves had constantly lashed the area making the task impossible
before the ship ran aground.
The Usaki Maru was enroute to Japan from Europe in a continuing
series of plutonium shipments that have been strongly protested
since their beginning in 1992. Green peace have always claimed
that no ship is safe in the ocean with nuclear material on board. A
spokes person Ms Jen Thompson said " We always knew the
risk and the consequences of these irresponsible actions, for it to
happen in such a pristine environment is an absolute tragedy, we
are devastated. There is little chance of alleviating the inevitable
disaster." Greenpeace have condemned the slow action to rescue
the ship, and have challenged Japan and France to offer all
the assistance at their disposal.
The carrier had hardly moved from where it had become
ensnared but one eyewitness said he believed the ship was beginning
to break up and the bow had now drifted off the rocks. The
coastguard escort ships and authorities however denied this and
believed it was still possible to recover the ship or remove the deadly
plutonium canisters before they were lost with the ship. Two of the
escort ships were positioned offshore to undertaking a salvage
but they were unlikely to attempt to reach the carrier in the
present conditions.
Two rescue tugs are heading for the area from New Zealand and
another three from Australia, while the USS destroyer "Michigan"
was being diverted to offer assistance. The Dept of Transport has
declared the area an international disaster and said it will accept any
offers of help as the situation is beyond its means, although an offer of
assistance from the Russian nuclear submarine "Glazertion", also in the
area, was declined by the New Zealand Government. The minister
of the Environment Mr Bill Land said the New Zealand Government are concerned at the lack of safety procedures followed by the escort
ships, but added that he was optimistic that situation could be
resolved. He said that an shore party landed yesterday by parachute
had set up a base on the island and had already ascertained that
the plutonium canisters appear to be intact at present with no
undue radiation levels detected.
The Japanese Government has apologised for the incident and
hopes that the carrier can be salvaged intact. Japan has said
that every effort will be made to avoid the loss of the plutonium
canisters and has offered unlimited assistance to the disaster. A
team of Japanese experts is being flown to the area to asses
the situation. However it will take nearly three weeks for a
suitable rescue ship with the necessary salvage equipment to
sail from Japan to the area, and other means of transportation
were being explored. With the plutonium being shipped from
France to Japan, at present there is no comment from the
French ministry on the disaster, but an announcement
is expected to follow.
Fears that the carrier could break up with its cargo of
commercial plutonium creating a major environmental disaster that
would leave a deadly legacy for at least a century were increased
when the tanker began leaking fuel oil during the night. Oil from
the carrier could be seen drifting on the sea and was being
whipped over the vertical cliff tops by the strong winds in a
mix of spray and foam. The islands are renowned as a seabird and wildlife reserve and
have become a major tourist destination of wildlife cruises in the
past few years with the limited allocation of visitors being
subscribed for the next three years. All tourist wildlife tours are
on hold for the time being and Japan has indicated that the tourist
ventures will be compensated for any loss. The stormy conditions in the area are expected to continue for the
next three days although the high seas are expected to abate
during the next day and some salvage attempt might be possible.
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