Boom placed around smouldering vessel

A fishing vessel continues to smoulder at PrimePort Timaru more than a week after it was engulfed by fire.

Firefighters were still dampening down hot spots yesterday on the Dong Won 701, which caught fire on April 9.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fenz) has yet to determine the cause of the blaze, which is understood to have broken out near the ship's accommodation area.

Port operations were initially suspended at the height of the fire but had resumed, PrimePort chief executive Phil Melhopt said.

On Sunday, Fenz deemed the boat safe for Environment Canterbury to place a boom around it.

The boom was now in place and would help contain oil or detritus.

A Fenz spokeswoman said it was hoped the fire would be out and the ship could be handed over to the Traffic Accident Investigation Commission by Friday. 

-By Alexia Johnston