Acid spill contained on boxship in Melbourne

Part of the terminal was evacuated during the incident.

The container involved and several others have been unloaded from the 4300 teu Ital Moderna and the clean up is expected to be completed shortly, an MFB spokeswoman said.

"MFB fire crews were called by workers to a spill of battery acid emitting from a 20ft container within the vessel," she added. 

Wearing fully protective clothing and breathing apparatus, firefighters took an hour to contain and neutralise the  leak of a corrosive and toxic product.

Later, the amount spilt inside the container and on the ship was put at 100 litres.

It appears the leak was caused during movement of drums within the container during shipping. 

The 2008-built ship, owned by ER Shiffahrt and chartered by Evergreen's Italia Marittima, is due to depart at 1400 hrs today.

An Evergreen Shipping Agency Australia spokesman said Victorian authorities had yet to clarify when the ship could leave.