Rena salvage operators are preparing for a major milestone in their task of removing the wreck from Astrolabe reef off the Bay of Plenty.
Resolve Salvage & Fire's specialist divers are in the last few days of preparation before they begin to cut and lift the 700-tonne accommodation block from the sunken stern section of the grounded ship.
This stage of the operation marks months of planning and preparation, and will require two separate near-perfect 72-hour weather windows.
There have been more than 200 days this year when salvors were unable to operate on the wreck due to weather and oceanic conditions.
More than 75 days of diving at significant depths have been needed to prepare the "house" structure to be cut and lifted. Divers have just three more days of work to feed the last two of eight lifting chains through before the cutting mechanism can be set up.