The French High Commission in Noumea said 540,000 litres of fuel had been pumped out of the almost 200-metre-long Kea Trader which ran onto a reef near the island of Mare a month ago.
The High Commissioner Thierry Lataste said the risk of any major pollution had now been averted.
Depending on the weather, cranes on salvage vessels will be able to remove containers off the ship.
Otherwise helicopters will be used to remove them to help facilitate the refloating of the vessel.
