Divers are on standby at the broken ship Rena as they wait for the right sea conditions to inspect damage to the wreck.
Rough seas have made it too dangerous for divers to carry out an inspection since the ship split in two in wild seas last weekend.
Divers yesterday carried out preliminary checks of the stern of the broken ship, which has mostly slipped beneath the waves more than three months after it ran aground on the Astrolabe Reef in October.
Maritime New Zealand this morning said the divers remained on standby as they waited for the right sea conditions to carry out the inspection, which would establish the state of the stern and identify any underwater obstructions to help guide the salvage operation.
They were unlikely to be able to carry out an inspection until tomorrow.
Salvors hope to resume container removal operations from the bow of the Rena today, with the crane barge Smit Borneo in position near the wreck.
Container recovery operations would take place at White Island today, while shoreline clean-ups on Bay of Plenty beaches would continue.
