Firefighters to open hold of damaged ship at Napier Port
Firefighters are set to open the hold of a ship berthed at Napier Port, almost a week after it erupted in flames.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand said the Kota Bahagia will be moved to a different area of the Port so that firefighters can complete this operation tomorrow morning.
The hold has been sealed since firefighters flooded it with Carbon Dioxide (CO2) last Friday. A drone will also be used to assist the fire crews.
While this is underway, there will be an exclusion zone of 500m around the ship and within the Port boundary.
Emergency services were called to a "well-involved" fire on board the Kota Bahagia at 10.45am last Friday morning, and had it under control by 1.30pm. At its peak, 19 appliances and support units from numerous brigades, including appliances responding from out of district attended.
The 161-metre, Singapore-registered vessel berthed last Thursday, was to have departed on Sunday morning.
The ship's crew who are currently well within their 14 days of isolation were transferred to another separate facility on port and have since tested negative for Covid-19.
FENZ are working with Napier Port, Maritime NZ, Transport Accident Investigation Commission and the ship company.
The investigation into the cause and origin of the fire remains ongoing. It is likely that this will take some time to complete.
