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A fire aboard a container ship in Napier harbor is under control after firefighters and ship engineers battled the blaze that sent huge plumes of black smoke over the city.
Eleven fire crews were working on the ship, which is docked, and some attempted to cool the side of the ship with water from outside, Fire and Emergency said. The service was called to fire at 10.45 am.
By midmorning, dark, smelly smoke began to billow from the ship, and police cleared onlookers from the roads surrounding the port and the lookouts on the nearby hills.
Fire and Emergency said people were still advised to stay away from the port, and properties near the port should keep windows closed to prevent smoke from entering.
The incident commander, Nigel Hall, said the fire was brought under control around 1.30 p.m., but firefighters would remain at the scene for a few hours.
“Anyone who is suffering some effect from the smoke just has to go to the hospital. The smoke was not directly on the hill, luckily, it was parallel coming out of the sea.”
The Transportation Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) has opened an investigation into the causes and circumstances of the fire.
The commission was informed that the fire originated in one of the holds of the Singapore-registered general cargo ship. Happy city while docked at the dock.
The entire crew was reportedly accounted for, the commission said.
Chief Accident Investigator Harald Hendel has appointed a team of two investigators, who will be on site tomorrow.
“His initial job will include interviewing witnesses and inspecting the ship’s hold when it is reopened, along with its contents and other parts of the ship when it is safe to do so.”
The TAIC opens an investigation when it believes that the circumstances of an accident or incident have, or are likely to have, significant implications for transport safety, or when the investigation may allow the commission to make conclusions or recommendations to improve transport safety .
The ship’s firefighters and engineers are on board fighting the blaze.
Photo: FENZ / Firefighters and Emergencies
The ship had sailed directly from China and the crew was wearing protective gear to prevent any possible spread of Covid-19, the Hawke’s Bay District Board of Health said.
But it was believed that there was a low risk of the crew contracting the virus, as they had been at sea for 17 days.
Huge black clouds of smoke billow from a large container ship in Napier harbor, and emergency services are trying to clear bystanders.
Clouds of smoke billow from a container ship in the port of Napier on December 18, 2020.
Photo: Supplied / James Hooker
Trevor Takerei, an SSA longshoreman in Napier port, said he was there at the time the ship caught fire.
He said the situation was quite scary.
“When we were evacuated I climbed a little higher around Napier Hill to get a vantage point. Part of it got out of control there, there were a couple of loud explosions, it was pretty spectacular, me.” “.
One person nearby, James Hooker, said he smelled and then saw the plume of smoke from a vantage point in the hills above, and hoped everyone had gotten off the ship safely.
He said crowds of people had also driven to the lookout and nearby roads to see what was happening.
Firefighters fight a fire on a container ship
Photo: Supplied / James Hooker
“There were so many cars, they blocked the guard post and the police … they are going to take everyone out.
“I can’t see anyone on the boat and I imagine they evacuated as soon as the fire broke out!”
RNZ reporter Tom Kitchin said the smoke was so strong that he had to stay in his car and that people in the area had put on masks.
The thick clouds of black smoke rising from the ship in Napier Harbor contrast with the clear blue day.
Photo: James hooker
People affected by smoke were advised to call Healthline if they needed medical advice.
Update 13:30: fire a ship in the port of Napier
The fire is now under control. Fire crews continue to cool the ship. We are working with the captain and the ship’s engineer. People are asked to continue to leave the area so that emergency services can continue to function. pic.twitter.com/0aocVxkxtO
– Fire and Emergency New Zealand (@FireEmergencyNZ) December 18, 2020
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