Salvors are preparing the Rena for severe weather this weekend with the Metservice predicting six-seven metre swells.
A low pressure system is expected to arrive this evening and carry through until Sunday, with the Metservice now predicting the worst weather to arrive on Monday.
Salvage crews are preparing the Rena for this weekend's bad weather. Photo: MNZ
Maritime New Zealand says salvors are bringing the Smit Borneo back to port and will use this time to complete maintenance work on the barge.
Support vessel Go Canopus will remain on site to monitor the Rena's condition.
MNZ officials says the vessel remains in a fragile but stable condition, with electronic sensors on board showing no significant change.
Although effectively in two parts, the forward and aft sections of the vessel remain firmly grounded on the reef.
A 3NM exclusion zone remains in place around the vessel, as does a 1500 foot vertical air exclusion zone.
Boaties are advised that the zone may need to be extended if the forecast bad weather results in more containers or debris being lost from Rena, as this will pose a hazard to shipping.
MNZ says if this occurs, navigational warnings will also be issued via maritime radio.
6 comments
Salvors prepare ship for bad weather
Posted on 07-01-2012 13:04 | By algail
One wonders would it have been possible to weld some huge plates across the break in the hull of the ship and so hold it together. Alastair Bethlehem
STOP THE WAVES
Posted on 07-01-2012 14:34 | By SCARLET PIMPINEL
Only real way and that is not going to happen anytime soon. ALGAIL: the sea has broken it in half mate, the whole super structure is broken/split/gone, unless you replace that and with heaps more, no chance. Nature is merely dealing to it as it should and as it does.
LIKELY MORE DAMAGE
Posted on 07-01-2012 15:26 | By ANNA KISSED
Can't see the RENA avoidign its fate, this storm should be a bit stronger than the last one so as ship is already broken and some, it is only a matter of time before the sea claims her back.
LOOK AT THE DECK
Posted on 07-01-2012 22:21 | By ANNA KISSED
Isn't it amazing that the RENA's damage has cut a line across the deck and ripped the steel hull plates, super structure and more from top to bottom like a slash with a knife cutting cleanly through.
WHEN SHE BREAKS
Posted on 07-01-2012 23:25 | By YOGI BEAR
There will be a mess, the result will be just that, sinking or not the challenge in the rough seas will be to do something about it. If she floats then the seas/current will push it to shore, pick a place ... if it sinks then who knows what will happen next but the salvage job will either way take a much more difficult turn
Salvors prepare
Posted on 09-01-2012 15:10 | By algail
Ahem Scarlet I did use the word Would . I was refering to the days folliwng the stranding of the ship not after it broke up. Alastair Bethlehem
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