1 Jun 2012

More containers removed from Rena

1:46 pm on 1 June 2012

More bags of milk powder, wool and at least one container came loose in heavy swells from the wreck of the Rena this week, but salvors managed to remove a further 50 containers.

A large number of aluminium ingots, other cargo and pieces of debris were removed from the wreck and from the seabed.

Small vessels have recovered most of the bags of milk powder, but some burst open.

A container with a cargo of milk powder was towed to an anchor point off Motiti Island and a transponder was attached to it before it sank at the mooring.

Maritime New Zealand says an operation to winch containers from the seabed is still being planned.

Svitzer Salvage says says hatch covers have now all been removed from the bow section of the wreck.

A total of 897 containers from an original count of 1368 have now been removed.