Fire aboard fishing boat in US court case

A below-decks engine fire is believed to be under control after a Sanford fishing boat caught fire while docked in Auckland's Viaduct Basin. 21 August 2012

Firefighters are battling a below-decks engine fire on a fishing boat docked at Auckland's Viaduct Basin.

The fire broke out in the bow of the 80m-long, 1800-tonne San Nikunau, about 10.45am on Tuesday, the Fire Service said.

The San Nikunau is the Sanford-owned vessel that has been at the centre of a US federal court case for dumping oily bilge waste into waters off American Samoa.

There were 40 crew on board at the time who were evacuated and there were no reports of injuries, northern communications spokesman Jaron Philips told NZ Newswire.

The fire was under control, he said.

Forty firefighters were at the scene and using thermal cameras and breathing apparatus to fight the blaze.

It was believed the fire started in the engine area, Mr Philips said.

Sanford was found guilty of six charges last week relating to the waste dumping and former chief engineer James Pogue was found guilty of failing to keep accurate records of how the vessel was managing bilge waste and falsely stating that pollution prevention equipment had been used when it hadn't.

Sentencing is set down for November 16.

Read more here:
Fire aboard fishing boat in US court case