SHIP DECLARED DANGEROUS

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31109, 12 July 1966, Page 18

SHIP DECLARED DANGEROUS

The Union Steam Ship Company’s freighter Waimea was declared a “danger ship” for more than an hour yesterday afternoon at Lyttelton, until an explosives inspector established that fumes from liquid chemical spilt in the No. 1 hold were not inflammable.

Two engines of the Lyttelton Volunteer Fire Brigade were called by the Harbourmaster (Captain A. R. Champion) at 4 p.m. in case the chemical was white spirits, 160 drums of which were among cargo in the hold. Firemen had pumps and hoses ready to fight any fire with foam, and “no smoking” notices were posted at the head of the No. 7 wharf, where the Waimea, from Sydney, berthed in the morning. The Union Steam Ship Company’s wharf superintendent (Captain C. Gass) said the chemical was probably formaldehyde. A small quantity of the chemical had leaked from a drum damaged through rough conditions at sea four days ago. The Waimea, scheduled to arrive on Sunday, had been delayed until yesterday.

Waterside workers unloading the cargo in the morning complained that the fumes were irritating to the eyes and throat and stopped work soon after 2 p.m. Breathing apparatus was supplied by the company, but this was not effective.

Captain Gass said the hatch would be left open during the night in the hope that the fumes would disappear. A firm was trying to obtain suitable breathing apparatus for the waterside workers, in time for work to start this morning, he said.