Further details on the container leak at the New Port on Tuesday September 23,  have been released by the company which imported the container, the Seychelles Marketing Board (SMB).

Speaking on behalf of SMB the company's Import Manager, Ms Rosalie Nicette, said that the container held a "consolidated consignment" of goods from South Africa, including the cleaning chemicals which are believed to have been responsible for the incident.

The container was seen emitting brown fumes and dripping a corrosive liquid which resulted in the Fire Brigade and officials from the ministries of Environment and Health being called to the scene on Tuesday.

Ms Nicette said that it appeared that the acid based cleaning chemicals had leaked from their containers, some 10% showed signs of damage, before reacting with the metal of the container.

Ms Nicette was also able to confirm that under a Ministry of Health directive all of the food products from the container will be destroyed.

Other items shipped in the container, including electrical plugs and builder's plastic sheeting, will be inspected for damage before a decision is taken over whether they can be offered for sale or not.

The total value of the consignment was roughly R150,000 and Ms Nicette said that all parties concerned had been informed of the situation at the start of the investigation into the "reasons and responsibilities" related to the incident.

She also said that the suppliers of the chemicals, who she declined to name, were being approached directly by SMB to discuss their proposals for preventing a repeat of the incident.

Head of the Food Control Unit at the Ministry of Health, Mr Daniel Bresson, was on the scene of the incident by 8:30 a.m. to assist in directing the Fire Brigade's clean-up operation.

Mr Bresson was able to confirm that despite the fumes there was little risk to human health, especially as the Fire Officers dealing with the chemicals were all equipped with breathing apparatus.

Having condemned as unfit all of the food held in the container, Mr Bresson also said that the Ministry has already overseen the destruction and disposal of the food products.

The container arrived in Seychelles on board the Delmas Sycamore V, though no damage was done to the ship as the chemicals only began to leak after the container was unloaded.

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