The Rena owners and insurers are intending to make a Resource Management Act application to leave the remaining sections of the Rena wreck on the reef.

The proposal announced during a media trip out to the Rena today, is one option to be discussed in the next round of public consultation on the fate of the wreck that includes two public meetings on February 26 and 28.

Captain John Owen of the Swedish Club says the remainder of the wreck and any debris will be left in a way that is safe for the public, and supports the future regeneration of the reef.

'The proposal would provide for ongoing monitoring of the wreck's structural integrity, any remaining cargo and surrounding reef sediments, as well as arrangements to make safe any damage or potential hazard identified over time.

'An ongoing onshore debris management plan, run by locally employed contractors will remain in place for the coastline and beaches of the offshore islands and the Bay of Plenty mainland.”

The remains of the Rena wreck at Astrolabe Reef.

Salvors work to cut the remaining bow section.

The proposal to leave the remainder of the wreck underwater follows more than 16 months of operations that have so far cost in excess of $NZ275million, says John.

'Our work programme for the next year will focus on addressing contaminants, the removal of debris from a 10,000 square metre area round the wreck and in due course to make it safer for recreational diving,” says senior claims manager for the Rena insurers The Swedish Club, Captain John Owen.

Left as is the wreck will not pose a navigation hazard and should not be a threat to the marine environment, says John. Further costs and risks associated with attempting full removal are not considered warranted.

'We will be seeking further feedback on the proposal from the Bay of Plenty community, which will include more hui with local iwi and hapu groups before a final decision is made,” says John.

'If the consents are applied for and granted a restoration package will be established to provide funding for a range of community and iwi based research scholarships as well as grants for environmental, social, cultural and or economic projects across the Bay of Plenty.”

The remaining sections to be left would include the stern, featuring the accommodation and wheelhouse.

Meanwhile work is continuing to reduce the bow section by Resolve Salvage and Fire, contracted to cut the metal away to one metre below the low tide mark.

Resolve senior salvage manager Frank Leckey says parts of the wreck are now two or three metres below low tide.

He says working conditions at the wreck 12 nautical miles off the coast of Tauranga remain difficult with strong winds and current surges. In the last three months salvors have worked only 30 per cent of the available time.

In spite of the difficulties presented by the exposed site, Frank says the bow section will be reduced to the required one metre below the low-tide mark before winter.

Frank says since Resolve was appointed to reduce the remaining wreck they have removed a thousand tonnes of steel off the forward remnant in a task that is becoming more hazardous as each piece is lifted. The remnant is moving from side to side and fore and aft in the swells, says Frank.

The stern section has slipped down the slope of the reef since is first broke free and sank in January 2012.

The 11,000 tonne section of the once 236 metre long container ship is now lying on the reef leaning to starboard at an angle of 55 degrees, and lying on a 17 degree slope. The rudder and propeller are at a depth of 55 metres on a hard rocky bottom.

The RMA application will be discussed at two meetings - the first at Club Mount Maunganui in Kawaka Street is on Tuesday February 26 from 4-7pm. The second is on Thursday February 28 at the Mount Surf Club, also from 4-7pm.

Salvors cutting onboard the Rena wreck today.

Salvage master Frank Leckey on a media trip to the Rena today.