The crane barge Smit Borneo is expected to arrive in Tauranga at 11am to help with container removal operations from Rena.

The 110m by 32m barge has spent the last four weeks travelling to Tauranga from Singapore to help speed up the container removal process from the ship grounded on Astrolabe Reef.

The Smit Borneo on route to Tauranga from Singapore.

It features a pedestal crane and a large secondary crane to provide greater reach than the SeaTow, currently being used to lift containers off the Rena.

Maritime New Zealand says it is expected to take the rest of the week to prepare Smit Borneo for container removal operations.

The multi-purpose barge left Singapore on November 8 and has spent the last four weeks travelling via the Indonesian archipelagos and Arafura Sea towards Torres Strait. It then passed by Hammonds Rock at the northern tip of Australia.

Svitzer spokesperson Kees Drent is on board the Smit Borneo and says the voyage encountered some rough weather with the ship 'rolling and pitching” as it passed through the Coral Sea into the Pacific Ocean, following three weeks of fine sailing.

Salvors are expected to use the vessel's onboard accommodation during removal operations.

Meanwhile stormy weather conditions are continuing to halt container removal operations at Astrolabe Reef, where Rena remains grounded since October 5.

The MetService is issuing a severe weather warning for the Bay of Plenty with heavy rain warnings in place and winds of up to 25 knots.

Clean up crews remain on standby to clean Bay of Plenty beaches following another small oil leak from the Rena on Saturday, December 3.

The Smit Borneo features a pedestal crane and large secondary crane.