New Zealand salvage teams have removed more than half the oil from a container ship grounded offshore but face a tough task in pumping out the rest under the threat of the vessel breaking apart.
The Liberian-flagged Rena has been stuck for more than three weeks on a reef 22km off the beaches of Tauranga on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island.
It has spilled about 350 tonnes of thick, toxic fuel and some of its hundreds of containers into the sea, killing birds and causing the country's worst environmental disaster in decades as thick globules of oil wash ashore.
Salvage teams have been able to pump more than 800 tonnes of oil from the ship, but they are facing a more difficult task pumping oil from a submerged tank.
"Our focus is now on creating a dam for the starboard number five tank which is under water," salvage unit manager Kenny Crawford said.
"Once they can seal off that area and get this water out, they will be able to pump oil. But it's extremely difficult and dangerous work."
The 236-metre ship, operated by the Mediterranean Shipping Co, had about 1700 tonnes of fuel oil on board when it hit the reef.
It has large cracks down both sides and is wedged on the reef but the stern is moving around, raising the risk of a break-up.
The ship's captain and second officer, both from the Philippines, have been charged with the dangerous operation of the 47,320 tonne ship, which carries a maximum penalty of a NZ$10,000 fine or 12 months in prison.
