ROUGH CUT - NO REPORTER NARRATION
Video shot on Thursday (January 5) shows the crack in the side of the container ship, Rena, had widened, as the vessel remained grounded off the coast of Tauranga, New Zealand.
The ship's precarious situation may become worse still, as bad weather was forecast to arrive on Saturday (January 7), with 6-7 metre (20-23 foot) ocean swells expected.
Maritime New Zealand said the anticipated severe weather may be the worst to hit the vessel since it grounded on a reef in October.
Although many of its cargo containers have already been removed, more than 800 containers remain on board, most inside the ship's hull.
The Rena was thought to have separated into two pieces, though divers have not yet been able to determine if the two halves were connected beneath the water's surface.
Salvors were using Thursday's good weather to tie down as many containers as possible before the weather deteriorated.
