Emergency services say the situation is under control at the Ports of Timaru after a liquid nitrogen leak on board a container ship.
The Port called Fire and Emergency at 1:30pm on Saturday after reports the 30-tonne container on a container ship might be leaking carbon monoxide - a colourless, odourless, and toxic gas.
Around 20 firefighters responded, an ambulance was put on standby and police closed roads around the port.
A spokesperson now says the cause was a liquid nitrogen leak on board. As fire crews were gearing up in PPE, workers discovered the leaking valve and fixed the problem.
The workers are being left to clear it up themselves.
