Firefighters contain ammonia leak from ship at Lyttleton Harbour

9:12 am on 17 December 2023
Lyttelton Harbour as seen from the Port Hills.

Lyttelton Harbour as seen from the Port Hills. (file image) Photo: 123RF / Gary Webber

Firefighters have contained an ammonia leak from a ship at Lyttelton Harbour.

Fire and Emergency said three crews had been called to the wharf, where the chemical leak was reported about 5am on Sunday.

Firefighters worked with engineers to get the situation under control, and it was resolved about 8.30am.

There was no threat to the public, Fire and Emergency said.

Lyttelton Port Company chief operating officer Eugene Beneke said all shipping movements and land operations were suspended at the port as a precaution, but operations had since resumed.

Earlier on Sunday, about 4am, fire crews contained another ammonia leak at a meatworks in Lorneville, north of Invercargill.