Three salvage teams of three have been airlifted onto the stricken container ship Rena this morning.
Maritime New Zealand salvage unit manager Bruce Anderson said the teams would reassess the ship's condition before preparing the port five fuel tank for pumping.
Once it had been re-entered and vented, and the Awanuia fuel barge moored in position, pumping would be able to resume.
Teams would then establish zones on the ship for further equipment to be brought on board to aid the salvage effort, including generators, switchboards and distribution panels.
They were expected to stay on board the Rena overnight to continue operations as long as possible, Mr Anderson said.
No further oil had escaped from the ship overnight.
