Covid 19 coronavirus risk stops emergency crews boarding ship in Timaru with liquid nitrogen leaks

A huge container ship docked in Timaru has a liquid nitrogen leak and ice is forming on the rear of the ship, but emergency services are unable to board due to the risk of Covid-19 among the crew.

The 280-meter Río Blanco has a possible leak of two tons of liquid nitrogen.

But the main communicator for Fire and Emergencies, Mau Barbara, says that the 20 firefighters and other emergency services on the scene cannot board due to a possible risk of Covid-19 on board.

“We have the problem that Covid may be on board, so we couldn’t get on board and crews couldn’t get off,” Barbara said.

“At this moment we are in contact with Customs and the captain of the ship and we are going to try to board the ship from a distance of two meters with gloves and masks. It has been confirmed that there is possibly a leak of between two tons of liquid nitrogen.

The entire port of Timaru has been evacuated.

“Ice was forming in the back of the boat, so all I can tell you is that fire crews were trying to board. We have 20 strange firefighters there.”

At 3:00 p.m. today, Barbara said that the Río Blanco’s first officer had told them that the situation had been resolved.

“We were all ready to board the ship, personal protective equipment, etc., and the ship’s first officer found out what the problem was,” Barbara said.

“It was a minor pressure valve leak. Because it was liquid nitrogen, everything was freezing. As far as I know, we never got on board the ship and the crew has not come off the ship.”