The Rena exclusion zone is being extended to cover the barges working on removing the sunken container ship's accommodation block.

The temporary moving exclusion zone is an addition to the two nautical mile, 3.7km, boundary around the Astrolabe Reef.

A chart showing the temporary exclusion zones.

Harbour master Jennifer Roberts says the zone is extended to include Resolve Salvage and Fire's barges involved in the operation to cut, and lift the sunken containership's four storey accommodation block from 50m deep water on the northern side of the Astrolabe Reef.

The containership struck the reef on October 5, 2011 and later broke up. The bow section has since been reduced by salvors to one metre below the low tide level. The larger stern section slid down the reef into deeper water.

The owner's and insurers made the decision to remove the accommodation section to avoid future pollution issues.

The extended exclusion zone includes the crane barge RMG500 and the deck barge RMG 1000 which will be anchored near Motiti Island.

A temporary moving exclusion zone has been set around the barge transporting sections of the dismantled Rena accommodation block to the Port of Tauranga.

'To ensure the safety of the divers and other workers involved in this operation, no unauthorised vessel may enter the temporary Moving Exclusion Zone, the first of which extends out 500 metres from the barge RMG500 during the transit from Astrolabe Reef towards Motiti Island while transporting pieces of the Rena accommodation block,” says Jennifer.

'The RMG1000 will be secured in place by four or more anchors, each marked with a large orange/yellow buoy and lit at night with a yellow flashing light.”

Anyone breaching the direction is liable to a fine or prosecution, says Jennifer.

The direction applies to all vessels, except those authorised by the Harbour Master or the duty Salvage Master.

The first temporary Moving Exclusion Zone will be located around the barge RMG500 while it moves between Astrolabe Reef (37⁰32.4'S 176⁰25.7'E) and Motiti Island (37⁰37.5'S 176⁰25.0'E).

A second temporary Exclusion Zone around the barge transfer site near Motiti Island will be at one of the following locations, depending on the weather:

1. 37⁰36.745'S 176⁰24.166'E
2. 37⁰36.700'S 176⁰24.502'E
3. 37⁰38.117'S 176⁰26.169'E

A third temporary Moving Exclusion Zone will also be located around the barge RMG1000 while it transits between the anchorage at Motiti Island (37⁰37.5'S 176⁰25.0'E) and the Port of Tauranga.

The Direction remains in force until Rena accommodation block transfer and removal operations are completed, says Jennifer.