A major fire on a fishing boat in Lyttelton could burn all night.

Thirteen trucks from throughout Christchurch are currently battling the blaze which the fire service say ''has the potential to burn all night''.

A Fire Service spokesman said they had been alerted at 5.40pm that a large vessel was on fire in the dry dock on Godley Quay.

Eight fire engines including a command unit were at the scene battling the blaze.

''The fire was well ablaze when they got there and they're now working to get it under control,'' the spokesman said.

''We're unsure what caused the fire yet, it's early days. It appears no-one was on the ship or is injured.''

The entire fishing vessel, known as the Ocean Breeze, was caught up in the blaze.

The Lyttleton Tunnel was closed for a short time to ensure the fire trucks could get to the scene quickly. But it has reopened.

Trucks from New Brighton, Sumner, Governor's Bay and Lyttleton, Christchurch, Addington, St Albans and Christchurch city are in attendance.

Emergency services were asking people to stay away from the area while they worked, he said.

''It's quite a large operation,'' the fire service spokesman said.

Lyttelton resident Anthea Struthers said there was smoke everywhere.

''It does look very dramatic,'' she said.

Resident John Fitzgerald said he saw a ''lot of smoke'' coming from the ship.

''There's a lot of smoke and a lot of activity going on down there,'' he said.

''A huge plume of smoke is coming from the stern and the bow.''

- © Fairfax NZ News

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