Timaru's port will stay closed for the night while firefighters wait for a blaze on a fishing boat to burn itself out.
Fire crews battling ablaze on board a fishing boat in Timaru port. Photo: RNZ / Supplied
The fire started with an explosion on board the Dong Won 701 but the 60 crew members managed to get off safely, although several suffered from smoke inhalation.
Fire crews sprayed water at the burning, 80m-vessel from the wharf and nearby tugboats all night. They focussed on cooling areas around the flames to avoid filling the boat with water and sinking it.
The boat will be salvaged once the fire is out.
Fire and Emergency's Stephen Greenyer has told Morning Report burning nets and a fuel vent hampered fire fighting efforts early on but most of the fire was now contained.
Mr Greenyer said it should burn itself out during the day.
The Canterbury Regional Council said there was no immediate threat of oil leaking from the burning fishing boat.
The port is next to a breeding colony for little blue penguins but the council said so far there was no risk to the environment.