The Deltaport container terminal was closed for several hours Monday due a hazmat incident.
According to terminal spokesperson Louanne Wong, the situation resulted in the Delta Fire Department and a third party contractor investigating a container that was leaking on a vessel berthed at the Roberts Bank terminal.
“An immediate 800-metre exclusion zone was set up resulting in a temporary closure of operations to ensure the safety of everyone on site,” Wong said.
The closure came into effect around 11:30 a.m.
“Quantum Murray, Deltaport’s hazmat contractor, was contacted. Once they arrived at the scene, the team dressed in hazmat gear and boarded the ship,” added fire Chief Dan Copeland. “The product was identified and there was no inhalation or fire risk.”
Copeland said it was determined the container needed to be removed from the ship.
“As the fire department were no longer required on scene as there was no risk of fire or explosion, firefighters cleared the scene just after 2 p.m.,” he said.
Wong said the exclusion zone was then reduced to 50 metres while the product was removed and the clean-up was done.
Deltaport re-opened at 2:30 p.m.
Delta police public affairs coordinator Sharlene Brooks said police monitored any possible back-up of trailer truck traffic on Deltaport Way as a result of the terminal closure, but there were no issues reported.
