The two halves of the grounded Lomar Shipping boxship Kea Trader have moved further apart off New Caledonia.
The owner said movement had been observed in the three weeks since the 2,194-teu vessel (built 2017) fractured vertically in storm-force seas following the grounding in July.
But the ship remains hard aground on the flat rock of Durand Reef.
"Salvors continue to monitor the situation, with tugs remaining on site along with specialist anti-pollution contractors," it added.
"Work to remove remaining containers has been on hold given poor weather and safety issues on site."
Nine Ardent salvage workers were all airlifted safely off by helicopter when the ship broke its back.
A total of 108 containers out of an original cargo of 756 units were still on board.
Kea Trader grounded on 12 July en route from Papeete, in French Polynesia, to Noumea in New Caledonia.
A rare ideal weather window and high tide allowed recovery teams to attempt an accelerated refloating operation in early October.
But this failed to dislodge the vessel and merely pivoted it by 60 degrees, with the rudder remaining firm in the same position.
