The Rena salvage operation now stands at a cost of about $14 million.

Speaking at a press conference today at Tauranga Boys' College Transport Minister Steven Joyce said the cost continues to build.

3m swells continue to lash Rena. Photo taken today by Maritime New Zealand.

'The bulk of that amount can be attributed to Maritime New Zealand.”

These costs include the oil recovery operations on the beach and on the water and the administrative costs of handling the disaster.

The $14 million does not include all costs related to the ship's salvage.

Exactly who ultimately foots the bill for the Rena disaster is not yet determined and the government is working with the ship's owners and its insurers on the issue.

In an earlier report, Rena's owner, Costamare, the Greek company said its insurance underwriter, The Swedish Club, is 'one of the world's most respected marine mutual insurers” and that it would meet the owner's obligations in full.

Its insurance policy also includes some pollution liabilities.

Work aboard the Rena continues today with 20 salvors aboard the vessel stranded on the Astrolabe Reef since October 5.

They are undertaking works to restart oil pumping from the vessel with their primary target the 358 tonnes of heavy fuel oil inside starboard five tank.

MNZ salvage unit manager Bruce Anderson says there is other lighter oil still aboard the ship and pumping of this onto the Awanuia barge should be able to resume soon.

Some of this oil is part of a water and oil mix sitting in the ship's bilge.