There are growing fears the bow section of Rena may be buckling as the front end of the ship continues to deteriorate.

Salvors working on board the bow of the ship, which sits above water on the Astrolabe Reef, have detected increased movement in the forward section during the long weekend.

Maritime New Zealand is reporting the bow section of Rena is moving. Photo: LOC

MNZ Spokesperson Sophie Hazelhurst says the movement signifies another piece of the wreck has probably given way, or is beginning to buckle.

Sophie says the wreck is 'very much exposed” to the elements and though it had not moved significantly since the Rena broke in two on January 8, it could move further.

The priority is for salvors to continue removing containers from the forward section, with two 20ft empty stock feed containers expected to be removed from the port side of the bow on Monday.

So far, 463 containers have been lifted from the Rena since it grounded on the reef on October 5.

Ninety-eight containers fall overboard prior to the wreck breaking in half, and an estimated 150 escaped when the ship broke in two.

Container processing company Braemar Howells has so far recovered 65 of the containers lost overboard from the water and beaches.

A McDermott heavy life helicopter is working to remove damaged containers and debris from Bay 12, Row 12 and Bay 86 of the bow section.