Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Rena holding together in rough weather

Updated at 5:50 pm on 24 November 2011

ds] Maritime New Zealand says the stranded container ship Rena is still intact despite bad weather.

Maritime New Zealand says the stranded container ship Rena is still intact despite bad weather.

However, it says the vessel remains in a fragile state and is at the mercy of the weather with strong winds and rough seas expected to continue throughout Thursday.

Maritime NZ says no one is on board the vessel at the moment because of safety concerns.

A crane barge being used to remove containers from the ship returned to port on Wednesday because of the deteriorating weather.

Maritime New Zealand says the crew of the tug Go Canopus, which is connected to the Rena, is monitoring the situation.

54 containers missing

Meanwhile, Maritime New Zealand says 54 containers from the Rena are now unaccounted for after one contained feared missing was found on board the vessel and the wreckage of another was found washed up on Motiti Island.

As of late on Wednesday, 95 containers had been removed from the stranded ship.

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