An up-close and personal account of events that occurred at Astrolabe Reef during the primary phase of the Rena salvage operation.

As a Master Mariner, I was acutely aware that I was in an extremely privileged position to be able to witness New Zealand maritime history as it unfolded. Having never before kept a daily personal log, I felt a compelling obligation to record my experiences to share with my family, former shipmates and the greater shipping fraternity, so that this chapter in the history of New Zealand maritime disasters could be retained for posterity. The narrative is taken from transcripts of my personal log. It has been liberally interlaced with previously unpublished sequential photographs to enhance the reader’s appreciation of the events described. To my knowledge, there is no similar comprehensive written or photographic record of the events described.

“This is a first-hand record of events that took place on and around Astrolabe Reef, as the Rena broke up and the salvage turned into a wreck removal. It is a uniquely well-informed and illustrated book, penned by that rare breed of writer; a man of action who is also a man of letters. Captain Judkins writes with unparalleled authority about the wreck of the Rena because he was there. Furthermore, the insider’s perspective he provides on shipboard life is attractive and captivating, as is his ability to describe complicated salvage procedures, in terms that can be grasped by laymen and seafarers alike.” John Julian – Author “BLACK TIDE”