Napier Port ship fire under control
A "significant" fire aboard a ship berthed at Napier Port is now under control, after firefighters spent more than three hours battling the blaze.
The incident not only forced the evacuation of crew undertaking their 14-day Covid-19 isolation period, but some locals close to the Breakwater Rd area were also forced to move as a precaution.
Emergency services were called to "well-involved" fire on board the Kota Bahagia at 10.45am this morning. At its peak, 19 appliances and support units from numerous brigades, including appliances responding from out of district attended.
At 1.30pm Fire and Emergency New Zealand announced the fire was under control but that fire crews, working with the ship's Captain and Engineer were continuing to cool down the ship.
FENZ Hawke's Bay Area Manager Ken Cooper said they had sealed and flooded the ship's hold with Carbon Dioxide (CO2).
As per procedure, they will leave it for 24hours before re-opening the hold. A crew will be stationed at the port overnight to monitor the situation.
Fire investigators are working with Maritime NZ to establish the cause of the fire.
The ship's crew who are currently within their 14 days isolation have been transferred to another separate facility on port.
Hawke's Bay District Health Board Medical Officer of Health Dr Nick Jones said their health protection team was working closely with Fire and Emergency, Napier Port Staff and Customs.
Dr Jones said the risk of any of the crew having Covid-19 was low as the ship had been at sea for 17 days and had come directly from China.
However, as a precautionary measure all the crew would be tested for Covid-19 this afternoon.
"All of the appropriate COVID-19 precautionary measures are in place, with the crew isolated from anyone else and in PPE," he said.
Dr Jones said people should stay away from the port and nearby houses should keep windows and doors shut to keep the smoke out.
Smoke may irritate eyes, nose, throat and airways. More serious symptoms include runny or sore eyes, dry or sore throat, sore nose, cough, tightness of the chest or difficulty breathing.
“In healthy people, most symptoms disappear soon after exposure to smoke ends and do not cause long-term health problems.
“People who have difficulty breathing, have a prolonged cough or tightness in their chest should call their GP or Healthline.
“In an emergency always phone 111, “ Dr Jones said.
