A fire is still smouldering on board the container ship APL Austria, moored in the Port of Ngqura East of Port Elizabeth.
The fire broke out in one of the vessel's forward cargo holds while it was at sea on Sunday night.
Captain Nigel Campbell of the SA Maritime Safety Authority says firefighting crews and ship personnel were busy throughout Monday night clearing containers from the area that is on fire, not dissimilar to making a firebreak.
He says a tug boat in attendance also sprayed water onto the ship throughout the night to reduce the heat caused by the fire.
He said they were also examining the cargo which is still in the hold because some of the hazardous cargo can react to water.
The APL Austria is the only ship currently in the Port of Ngqura and is not considered a danger to anyone.
Captain Campbell said the worst of the fire is out and that it can currently best be described as smouldering.
