The Russian ship that sank on rocks just outside the Sounds was never recovered and is used by divers to this day.
I am reliably informed by one member of Maritime New Zealand that they intend to remove two halves of Rena off the reef. This will cost the taxpayer, you and me, an estimated 300 to 400 million dollars, and all this when we're in a recession. The only people to benefit from this are the salvors, Swizter part of Smits of Rotterdam.
Myself and another man, once the head of the dry dock in Wellington reckoned that we could have salvaged the Rena.
The anchors and cables forward could have been let go, estimated weight 1000 tons. The deck cargo could have been pulled off using tug wires. Compressors delivering compressed air with hatches sealed could have kept her afloat. You use the bad weather to help; she started moving as the swell increased.
In the UK we towed a 23,000 battleship upside down only kept afloat by compressed air. During this trip of eight days 15 men lived aboard keeping the compressors going. Later we towed a tanker from Spain with only half a bottom in her. She was supported by compressed air. The problem was what do you do with the Rena then. You keep towing a hundred miles or so to deepwater and sink her.

Captain Robert Wyld, Tauranga.