Port Taranaki was evacuated after the ship the Poavosa Wisdom caught fire this afternoon.
Smoke could be seen coming from the bow of the ship which arrived from Victoria today carrying a load of wheat.
Fire Service central communications shift manager Mike Wanoa said 209 litres of an unidentified hazardous chemical were found and all emergency personnel had been withdrawn from the port.
He said technical liasion officers with “level three suits” would be entering the ship to determine what the chemical was.
Firefighters had earlier been lowered into the hold of the ship to extinguish the blaze.
Wanoa said the fire had reached a third alarm level and there were eight fire trucks at the scene and 30-40 fire staff were attending.
He said it was unclear whether the smoke was toxic but precautions were being taken.
The Poavosa Wisdom is berthed at the Moturoa wharf and its 21 crew members have been evacuated from the ship.
Nearby homes may be evacuated if the smoke increases or the wind changes direction.
Five other ships were in port.
New Plymouth fire brigades were alerted by port security about 1pm
New Plymouth - A shipment of wheat onboard the Poavosa Wisdom is on fire.