Salvage work onboard the Rena wreck remains stalled as maintenance and general repairs to the Smit Borneo crane barge continue in port.

The barge came into port at the end of last week as a storm brewed and it has remained there since.

Rena photographed this week by LOC.

Maritime New Zealand is reporting the weather at the Astrolabe Reef, where the Rena is wrecked, remains poor, also preventing any salvage work to be undertaken.

It reports southeast sector winds of about 20 knots are expected at the reef today, easing further Saturday morning with light north-northwest sector winds on Saturday afternoon.

MNZ is forecasting light southeast sector winds will develop for a time on Sunday morning, becoming northeast and 10-15 knots Sunday afternoon and 15-20 knots sustained through until Monday morning, before 15-20 knot west-northwest winds develop Monday afternoon.

The long range outlook is for moderate to strong west-southeast sector winds on Tuesday morning, becoming east-southeast through until Tuesday and easing Wednesday.

MNZ's forecast for the sea state at the reef is expected to increase to 1.5-2.0m by Friday afternoon and ease to 1.0-1.5m by Saturday afternoon persisting Sunday.

An aerial observation flight was made of the wreck on Thursday and this effort revealed an oil sheen had developed at the reef.

The sheen measured about 250m by 50m and led away from the wreck in a northerly direction for about 1km.

The sheen was noted to be black oil with brown scum.