A fire on board a container ship at Napier Port is under control after firefighters and ship engineers fought back the blaze which sent massive black smoke plumes over the city.
Eleven fire crews were working at the ship, which is docked, with some trying to cool the side of the ship with water from outside, Fire and Emergency said. The service was called to the fire at 10.45am.
Dark 'foul smelling' smoke began billowing from the ship mid-morning, and police cleared onlookers from roads surrounding the port and lookout points in the hills nearby.
Fire and Emergency said people were still advised to keep away from the port, and properties near the port should keep their windows closed to keep the smoke out.
Incident commander Nigel Hall said the fire was brought under control by about 1.30pm but firefighters would remain at the scene for some hours yet.
"Anyone who is suffering any effects from the smoke just needs to go to the hospital. The smoke was not directly on the hill, quite luckily, it was parallel going out ot the sea."
The Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) has opened an inquiry into the causes and circumstances of the fire.
It has been reported to the commission that the fire originated in one of the holds of the Singapore-registered general cargo ship Kota Bahagia while it was berthed at the wharf.
All crew had been reported as accounted for, the commission said.
Chief Investigator of Accidents Harald Hendel has appointed a team of two investigators, who are due on-site tomorrow.
"Their initial work will include interviewing witnesses and inspecting the ship's hold when it is re-opened, along with its contents and other parts of the ship when safe to do so."
The TAIC opens an inquiry when it believes the circumstances of an accident or incident have - or are likely to have - significant implications for transport safety, or when the inquiry may allow the commission to make findings or recommendations to improve transport safety.
Firefighters and the ship's engineers are on board fighting the fire. Photo: FENZ/ Fire and Emergency
The vessel had sailed straight from China, and the crew were all wearing protective gear to prevent any possible spread of Covid-19, the Hawke's Bay District Health Board said.
The DHB later advised that all the crew have tested negative to Covid-19.
Huge black clouds of smoke are billowing out of a large container ship at Napier Port, and emergency services are trying to clear onlookers back.
Clouds of smoke billow out of a container ship at Napier Port on 18 December, 2020. Photo: Supplied / James Hooker
Trevor Takerei, a stevedore for SSA at Napier Port, said he was there the moment the vessel caught on fire.
He said the situation was quite scary.
"When they evacuated us, I went up a bit higher round Napier Hill to get a bit of a vantage point. It sort of got out of control one part there, there was a couple of loud explosions, it was quite spectacular, I've never seen anything like that before."
A person who was nearby, James Hooker, said he had smelled and then saw the smoke pillar from a vantage point on the hills above, and hoped everyone had got off the ship safely.
He said crowds of people had also driven to the lookout and to nearby roads, to see what was happening.
Firefighters battle a blaze on a container ship Photo: Supplied / James Hooker
"There was so many cars, they blocked the lookout and police... are going up to remove everyone.
"I can't see any people on the ship and I imagine they evacuated as soon as the fire broke out!"
RNZ reporter Tom Kitchin said the smoke was so bad he had to remain in his car, and people in the area had put on masks.
The thick black smoke clouds billowing from the ship at Napier Port draws a stark contrast with the clear blue day. Photo: James Hooker
People affected by the smoke were being advised to call Healthline if they needed medical advice.