Fire on Timaru fishing vessel contained

A fire on an 80-metre fishing ship in Timaru Port is contained.

Update 1. 10/04/2018

Operations at the Timaru Port will pause for 24 hours while a fire on a fishing ship is fought.  The fire on an 80-metre fishing ship remains contained within the vessel.

PrimePort Acting Chief Executive Nick Donaldson said operations will pause temporarily until about 10 am on Wednesday.

“The temporary pause will allow us to work through the options and assess the next steps. “

The focus at the moment is on cooling the ship with water and extinguishing the fire.

“We have the resources we need, including the Fire and Emergency New Zealand paid and volunteer firefighters, who are doing an amazing job.  We also have a tug providing boundary cooling on the port side of the vessel,” said Mr Donaldson.

PrimePort will continue working with Environment Canterbury and Fire and Emergency New Zealand to monitor hazards, and to minimise environmental harm.

Environment Canterbury Harbourmaster Ian Fox said: “Once the fire is extinguished we will continue to work with PrimePort to manage navigation safety and environmental matters associated with any subsequent operations that may be needed.”

Another update will be issued tomorrow unless the situation changes substantially.

Working together to minimise environmental harm

PrimePort Acting Chief Executive Nick Donaldson said: “As the fire is contained on the vessel now, the plan is to let it burn out.  PrimePort is now also working through options to resume normal operations.  We are working with Environment Canterbury and Fire Emergency New Zealand to deal with hazards, and to minimise environmental harm.”

Environment Canterbury Senior Manager Service Delivery Nick Daniels said Environment Canterbury was notified at 9.30pm on Monday.  Staff from the Harbourmaster’s office travelled to Timaru at the request of PrimePort to assist with operations.

“The focus of the Harbourmaster is port safety,” said Mr Daniels.  “Staff from the Harbourmaster’s office worked with PrimePort to ensure that all vessels in the port area were safe and the vessel itself was not a hazard to port operations.”

Once the fire is extinguished, Environment Canterbury will work with PrimePort to manage environmental risks associated with the subsequent salvage operation.

“At this time, with the fire is contained within the vessel, there are no immediate environmental risks,” continued Mr Daniels.