A bird's eye view of Lyttelton Port (file photo). Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon
Four people needed to be treated after a chemical incident at Lyttelton Port in Christchurch on Friday morning.
A Fire and Emergency (FENZ) spokesperson said they were called around 9.40am on Friday after receiving reports of two people trapped in a tank on the ship.
They had to be rescued from a tank by firefighters wearing breathing apparatus.
The two people pulled from the tank were given first aid before St John took over.
A spokesperson from Hone Hato St John said four patients were taken to Christchurch Hospital - three in a serious condition and one in a moderate condition.
Four ambulances, two rapid response units, and two operations managers responded to the incident.
A Lyttelton Port spokesperson said the incident happened on a vessel in dry dock and is being investigated by Maritime New Zealand.
The spokesperson said no LPC staff were involved, and directed further inquires to the owners of the Australian-flagged fishing vessel, Antarctic Discovery.
Australian Longline Fishing, owner of Antarctic Discovery, has been approached for comment.
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