The massive accommodation block of the wrecked containership Rena has seen daylight for the first time in more than two years.
Salvors Resolve Salvage and Fire last night successfully raised the top half of the ship's accommodation block from the seabed suspended below the RMG 500 crane barge - placing it onto a transport barge.
People have a chance to get a close-up look of the top half of the Rena accommodation block tonight as it is brought into the harbour after being successfully retrieved.
But boaties are being advised to steer clear.
The cut and lift operation to remove the first 350 tonne metalblock ended up taking 12 days to complete, after an initial estimate of four days.
Attempts were made to bring the block back onto dry land last week but deterioration and weather led to the decision to transport the piece underwater in behind Motiti Island.
During the first lift attempt on Thursday - the lifting chains tore through the starboard section.
Specialist divers spent the next four days resetting the rigging with careful planning to ensure the weights were equally held across the four lifting chains before the section was re-raised.
Spokesman for Rena's owner and insurer Hugo Shanahan said the block was hoisted onto a barge last night and it was expected to be brought back to the Port of Tauranga about 5pm today.
"With cyclone Lusi on the way it was important to get this completed," he said.
