More than 450 litres of diesel has been safely removed from a sail boat that grounded on Motuhoura (Whale Island) near Whakatane yesterday.

The unmanned boat dragged its anchor and went ashore on its side on the southwestern shore of the island.

Bay of Plenty council and maritime officers got all the fuel off by flooding the tank with water to bring the diesel to the top where it could be pumped off into containers.

The skipper of the sail boat 'Checkmate', a 47-foot ferro-cement pilothouse cutter, said the boat's engine blew up when salt water got into it.

"Now the fuel has been removed, and it appears there is little or no engine oil or wastewater left on board, the vessel presents a hugely reduced pollution risk," Bay of Plenty pollution prevention officer Adrian Heays said. "There is little oil in the engine or gearbox since it blew up."

Less than a litre of diesel had been mopped up with booms and absorbent pads.

The vessel's owners and Maritime New Zealand will determine how to remove the vessel from the island.

Source: TVNZ