On 5 October 2011, due to navigation errors near the Astrolabe Reef,[3] the Rena ran aground near Tauranga, New Zealand, resulting in an oil spill.

[4] Over the span of several months, she had been battered by consistent heavy winds and rough seas and on 8 January 2012 the Rena broke in two after a particularly harsh night of bad weather.

The main engine, which had a maximum output of 21,996 kW (29,497 hp) at 98 rpm, burned 90 tons of heavy fuel oil per day while giving the ship a service speed of 21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph).

Delivered on 1 April 1990 and registered in Haifa, the new 3351 TEU container ship enabled Zim to offer a weekly fixed-day sailing schedule for its customers.

[1][2] On Wednesday, 5 October 2011, at 2:20 AM while sailing from Napier to Tauranga, the Rena ran aground on the Astrolabe Reef off the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand.

[24] In a report by the ship's owner, it was noted that the anti-fouling paint on the wreck contains zinc, diuron, copper, and tributyltin (TBT).

"[25] The Sediment Quality Report submitted by the ship's owners as part of their resource consent application to leave the wreck on Astrolabe noted, "Sediment contaminant concentrations on Astrolabe Reef adjacent to the wreck indicates adverse effects on organisms are likely to be occurring due to elevated concentrations of copper, zinc, TBT, and PAHs.

Divers are monitoring for any pieces of steel that might become dislodged and float in the tide to damage the reef, as well as the status of 5 to 10 tonnes of granulated copper trapped underneath the wreck’s hull.

[30] The team will keep monitoring the MV Rena for the next 20 years to check it causes no further damage to the reef and any issues are identified early.