Rena wreck still unstable on reef | Bay of Plenty News | Local News in Bay of Plenty

Salvage efforts have taken to the sky as experts explore ways to remove containers from the ship Rena.

A helicopter flew back and forth from the ship to the shore yesterday and removed planks of wood and bags of milk powder from the bow.

But as containers and other debris are lifted off the ship, the weight inside the bow - which is holding the vessel firmly on the reef - is easing and causing the front part of the boat to wiggle around.

Salvage experts said movement detection equipment continued to monitor the movement in the forward part of the wreck as the structure continued to deteriorate, but this was not unexpected.

Experts said this movement was due to the weight of containers being lifted off the wreck, and the internal structure being exposed to the force of sea and the movement of containers up and down inside the holds.

Weather conditions forecast for today at Astrolabe Reef are favourable for salvors, who are continuing to remove debris and parts of containers from the front section of the ship.

Divers were to get back into the water today and continue underwater inspections, after rough sea conditions stopped them doing so for the past few days.

Divers will inspect the stern section, which is almost completely submerged.

On shore, volunteers in white protective suits dotted the Mount Maunganui coastline yesterday and cleaned oil-smudged rocks from the rocky shore. A team of 38 oil spill respondents worked at Mount Maunganui and Leisure Island and 26 worked on Matakana Island.

Shoreline clean-up teams worked on Motiti Island and east of Whakatane yesterday, and oiled wildlife teams worked in the same areas and checked for affected wildlife.

Environmental clean-up specialists Braemar Howells advised Matakana Island would be the main focus of clean-up operations this week.

On the island, volunteers would gather debris into bundles so they can be taken by helicopter to a waiting barge, a spokesperson said.

Surveillance flights confirmed a light oil sheen has been seen coming from the wreck.

Oil spill response teams are on standby.

Flight surveillance will continue this week as part of Braemar Howells debris-spotting operations.