Port evacuated as fire crews and technicians tackle gas leak
A gas leak closed the ferry terminal and several streets in Picton yesterday morning.
A 25,000-litre LPG tank was found to be leaking at a KiwiRail yard at the terminal, and an exclusion zone was set up as Fire and Emergency NZ was notified at 6.10am.
KiwiRail confirmed that the leak was found on a truck and trailer unit in its rail yard. The port was evacuated and ferries were delayed while technicians isolated the fault.
Port Marlborough chief executive Rhys Welbourn said it had been running ‘‘limited operations’’ while crews assessed the severity of the leak and potential repair options. However, shipping and port operations were able to resume by 9.45am.
Bluebridge’s Straitsman had been able to leave Picton for Wellington.
The NZ Transport Agency said the gas leak prompted the closure of several nearby streets. These had reopened by 10am.
Marlborough District Council harbourmaster Luke Grogan said the cruise ship Seabourne Encore was anchored off Picton harbour about 6.30am, but passengers were able to disembark by tender.
Two fire crews from Picton, two crews from Blenheim and a Nelson hazmat truck were dispatched to the scene.
Picton Volunteer Fire Brigade chief fire officer Wayne Wytenburg said they needed to disperse the gas before it was safe for port and shipping operations to resume. ‘‘It froze everything in Picton within a potential blast zone.’’
FENZ put a monitor in place, which fired water into the leak site. They waited on technical advisors to confirm it was safe, Wytenburg said.
Interislander passenger Karl Hayes said he was on the 3.30am service, due to dock at Picton at 7am, when passengers were informed by the captain that there was a dangerous goods incident at the terminal.
‘‘Coffees and breakfast were provided free of charge by Interislander. Staff are pretty good and helpful despite not knowing what will happen next,’’ he said.
Atlantis Backpackers owner Sheira Hudson said from her business had been warned that it could have to evacuate.
‘‘People inside are walking around holding coffees, they’re not looking too panicked. It’s not the first time something like this has happened in Picton.’’
A holiday programme called Conservation Kids: Humpback Whale Day was cancelled due to the gas leak.