Sharks have attacked the sonar equipment used to find sunken containers fallen from the deck of the Rena.

The attack on container recovery specialist Braemar Howells Ltd's equipment was on Sunday in the area between Whale Island and East Cape.

The Rena photographed on Sunday. Photo: LOC

Container removal operations from the Rena are continuing with 17 lifted from it by Svitzer salvors during the weekend.

A container filled with meat also fell from the ship at the weekend. This has been recovered.

When Rena ran aground on the Astrolabe Reef on October 5 it was carrying 1368 containers. Salvors have removed 227 and 89 have washed overboard since.

There are 1052 containers still onboard.

The condition of the ship is deteriorating and regular diving inspections show buckling damage to its hull adjacent to the six starboard side continues to develop.

Maritime New Zealand reports this is consistent with previous inspections following periods of bad weather.

Bad weather has led to increased oil spills from Rena since her grounding and there is a narrow trail of rainbow sheen visible from its bow to the northwest for 1km

A MNZ shoreline clean-up assessment team is checking Omanu Beach and Pilot Bay today for washed up oil.

Two clean-up teams are working at Mount Maunganui with one team undertaking warm water washing and the other scraping rocks. A team is also working at Kulim Park.