| Accident | Fire |
| Vessel type | Fishing vessel |
| Date | 18th April 2016 |
| Location | Lyttelton Port of Christchurch |
| Casualties | Two Injured |
The fishing vessel was moored in the port’s inner harbour when a blaze was reported from it around 8.15 am on Monday. Emergency services were called to the scene at the west side of wharf seven. Large plumes of smoke billowing from the burning ship was seen across Lyttelton.
The reports say that four members were treated for the smoke inhalation while two have been sent to the hospital for a thorough check up. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
According to the fire service shift manager Riwai Grace, there was a lot of maintenance activities going on at the wharf, “We believe it might have been started by a spark from a grinder or a welder.” He also added that everyone had evacuated the ship before the fire took hold.
Independent Fisheries director Kevin McDonnell said he was waiting to hear from staff at the scene about what caused the fire. Police would liaise with the Fire Service and help where needed, he said.
About the ship:
The ship is a factory trawler called the Desert Rose, which is owned by Christchurch company Independent Fisheries. The ship was built in 1989 and has a home port of Kingstown, the capital of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The vessel had been in New Zealand for about four months, having a ‘refit.’
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Source: NZ Herald
