(ROUGH CUT ONLY - NO REPORTER NARRATION)<br/> <br />The stern of stricken container ship Rena, stranded for months since it ran aground last October, sank on Wednesday (April 4) in rough seas, Maritime New Zealand said.<br/> <br />The Rena snapped in half off the coast of Tauranga, New Zealand on January 9, and the two sections of the vessel had been resting on the Astrolabe Reef.<br/> <br />However, an observation flight over the wreck confirmed the stern has disappeared.<br/> <br />Maritime New Zealand said this was due to the ongoing rough seas pounding the weakened structure.<br/> <br />TV New Zealand said the sinking is likely to result in more debris and small amounts of oil being leaked into the sea.<br/> <br />The National Response team had been activated in January when it broke fearing fuel would be released into the sea.<br/> <br />The 47,230-tonne Liberian-flagged Rena has been stranded 22 km (12 miles) off Tauranga on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island since running aground on October 5.
