Fire aboard Hedland ship

Emergency services were called to Port Hedland port this afternoon after a ship caught fire while berthed in the harbour.

Witnesses said the fire started just after 4pm and black smoke was still lingering over the port more than 30 minutes later.

A Port Hedland Port Authority spokesman said cutting work was being undertaken in the ship’s forward hold when the fire started.

It was berthed at the Port Hedland Port Authority-owned Number 2 berth on the main harbour’s east side.

“We activated the Port’s emergency plan,” the spokesman said. “In the mean time we evacuated everyone in the area. All have been accounted for.”

The spokesman said FESA responded quickly to the fire, which had been extinguished by 4.45pm.

A witness said the smoke was thick and black.

“It was really bad smoke … It was disgusting,” she said.