Seven Workers Killed in Bangladesh Shipyard Gas Leak

Seven workers have died following a toxic gas leak at a ship recycling facility in Bangladesh.

The incident took place on Friday morning at Ferdous Steel Ship Recycling Industries in Bhatiyari, Sitakunda. The facility is authorized to operate under the International Maritime Organization’s Hong Kong Convention for ship recycling.

Local news agency UNB reported that two workers died at the recycling yard, while another five later died at Chattogram Medical College Hospital. Several other workers were also reported to have become ill following the incident.

Early reports suggested that an explosion had occurred at the facility. However, Chattogram police later said the deaths and illnesses resulted from toxic gas leaking from a tank onboard a ship undergoing dismantling. Other local reports have identified the vessel involved as an LNG carrier that was approaching the final stages of the dismantling process.

According to officials at the recycling yard, liquid waste had been found in a section of the vessel. A safety officer and other workers then went to examine the area before the toxic gas leak occurred.

Bangladesh’s Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments has opened an investigation into the incident. which will examine what caused the gas to escape and whether sufficient safety precautions had been implemented at the facility.

Ferdous Steel Ship Recycling Industries holds authorization from the Bangladesh Ship Recycling Board under the Hong Kong Convention. The authorization is valid until October 2030. The Hong Kong Convention entered into force in June last year and established mandatory international requirements relating to environmental and safety standards at ship recycling facilities.

The recycling yard forms part of the Ziri Subedar Group which has previously experienced a number of serious accidents at its ship recycling operations in Sitakunda over the years.