People with personal property onboard the Rena will not have to pay to get their goods back according to the company in charge of the salvage operation.

Svitzer salvage says people who have personal property in containers on the ship will not have to pay the salvage contribution, recently reported to be as much as 80 per cent of the property's value.

This is only the case for containers with personal property including furniture, personal artifacts, appliances and vehicles and will not apply to commercial goods.

Svitzer says it has only just been informed by Mediterranean Shipping Company, the company that chartered the Rena, that there are nine containers of personal goods on the ship.

The ship was carrying 1368 containers when it ran aground on October 5.

So, far 167 containers have been removed, while 86 containers were washed overboard on October 11, leaving 1115 still on the ship.

Svitzer spokesperson Matt Watson says it will not take security over these nine containers.

'This means that owners of personal property on the Rena, not destroyed or lost, should get their belongings back, regardless of whether or not they are insured.

'There has never been an intention to hold security over such personal items.”

Svitzer recently asked the vessel's insurers for a guarantee on the percentage of property onboard the Rena to ensure there is payment for salvage work undertaken.

'The guarantees being arranged now are paid to the vessel's insurers, who will ultimately pay Svitzer when the salvage costs are known.”

The overall payment to Svitzer will not be known until the salvage operation has been completed

However, Svitzer says given the 'difficult nature of the Rena operation” the percentage of this salvage is higher compared to other salvage operations, but will not confirm or deny it is as much as 80 per cent of the value of the goods.

'It is a standard and long-held practice for maritime salvors to ask insurers of stricken vessels for a guarantee over a percentage of property onboard.”

'Such salvage work is costly and protracted, and can present extreme commercial risks unless payment safeguards are in place.”

Matt says due to the confidential arrangements with insurers, and the emotional factors involved, it is not appropriate for the company to discuss the details of insurance arrangements.

In the last three days people with containers on Rena have received a letter from MSC notifying them of the cargo security arrangements.

Tania and Derin Greenslade, who run a furniture import business in Judea, have five containers of commercial furniture onboard the ship, and will not be covered by maritime insurance.

They received a letter through email saying they will need to pay 80 per cent up front for the cargo including freight (CIF) value, or risk interest and storage costs.

'What it is essentially saying is that we have to pay 80 per cent of the goods up front.

'If there is a delay in releasing the cargo because we haven't paid the security then we will be charged to store the cargo, which is about $80 a day.”

The letter states the cargo will not be released until acceptable salvage security is made.

It also says the amount will be reduced to 80 per cent of the salved value of goods if they are deemed to be damaged.

Derin and Tania also have the option of making a one-off cash settlement of 65 per cent of the value of the goods in US dollars. Settlements of damaged cargo will then be assessed on a case by case basis.

The Greenslades have also received notification that their containers below deck will be brought to shore 'shortly” and have been invited to appoint a surveyor to inspect the goods.

Derin has elected to personally assess the goods when they are brought to the Port of Tauranga and processed by Braemar Howells.

Derin says he is philosophical about the situation, but is upset that they will have to pay for the goods and freight, which they have already paid for.

'It is unfortunate that we have to be responsible for the actions of someone else.

'We have already paid for the goods and now we have to pay for them all over again.”

Derin says it is completely fair that people with personal items in containers on the ship do not have to pay and says he would like to be in that situation himself.

Svitzer is urging the owners of personal property to liaise with their insurers to be clear of the circumstances, and with MSC, which Svitzer says is responsible for handling personal effects back to their owners.