Fuel oil washed up on beaches at Papamoa, near Tauranga on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island as the Liberian-flagged ship MV Rena hit the Astrolabe Reef last Wednesday.

The 47,230-tonne vessel is stranded on the reef 12 nautical miles (22 km) off Tauranga and authorities estimated 300 tonnes of oil has escaped from the ship, causing the country's worst environmental disaster in decades, Reuters reports.

About 70 containers are said to have fallen from the ship amid heavy seas on Monday night.

The oil spill from the stricken container ship has been fouling beaches and many dead seabirds lie on the shore amid thick fuel oil while environment conservation officials and volunteers try to contain the damage.

According to Maritime New Zealand, the captain of the Rena appeared in the Tauranga District Court on Tuesday and is reportedly remanded on bail.

Check out some of the latest pictures of the disaster from New Zealand oil spill below:

New Zealand Oil Spill
Thick fuel-oil from the stricken container ship Rena fouls beaches at Papamoa, near Tauranga October 12, 2011. REUTERS
New Zealand Oil Spill
The 47,230 tonne Liberian-flagged Rena lists in heavy morning seas, about 12 nautical miles (22 km) from Tauranga, on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island October 12, 2011, a week after hitting the Astrolabe Reef. REUTERS
New Zealand Oil Spill
Containers from the 47,230 tonne Liberian-flagged Rena float next to it after falling from the deck. REUTERS
New Zealand Oil Spill
Containers from the 47,230 tonne Liberian-flagged Rena float next to it after falling from the deck, about 12 nautical miles (22 km) from Tauranga, on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island October 12, 2011 REUTERS
New Zealand Oil Spill
A man walks past fuel oil from the stricken container ship Rena that washed up on beaches at Papamoa, near Tauranga October 12, 2011. REUTERS
New Zealand Oil Spill
A volunteer looks at dead seabirds on the shore as thick fuel-oil from the stricken container ship Rena fouls beaches at Papamoa, near Tauranga October 12, 2011. REUTERS
New Zealand Oil Spill
Conservation officials and volunteers remove dead seabirds as thick fuel-oil from the stricken container ship Rena fouls beaches at Papamoa, near Tauranga October 12, 2011. REUTERS
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