13 September, 2024On 7 September, a deadly explosion claimed the lives of four workers and seriously injured more than ten others at a ship recycling yard in Bangladesh compliant with the Hong Kong Convention.
The explosion occurred at the SN Corporation shipbreaking yard, in the pump house of a scrap ship as workers were engaged in pipe cutting. IndustriALL affiliates reported that just a few days prior to the explosion, a fire broke out on the same ship when workers were cutting pipes. Management decided to stop the work in that section, but the work was resumed again, this time leading to a devastating incident.
This is not a stand-alone incident at the SN Corporation shipbreaking yard. According to unions, there has been at least four incidents this year alone due to safety lapses. News reports reveal that the probe committee formed to investigate the 7 September explosion has identified both technical and management lapses leading to the explosion.
SN Corporation Unit-2 got its Hong Kong Convention (HKC) Compliance certificate in March 2023, becoming the second shipyard in Bangladesh to be compliant with the International Maritime Organization’s Guidelines for Safe and Environmentally Sound Ship Recycling. HKC Compliance requires the company to have a ship recycling plan.
The guidelines clearly state that the ship recycling facility must ensure that no hot work commences in these spaces until certified ‘safe-for-hot-work’:
(i) enclosed spaces that potentially contain dangerous atmospheres
(ii) within, on, or immediately adjacent to spaces that contain or have contained combustible or flammable liquids or gases
(iii) within, on, or immediately adjacent to fuel tanks that contain or have last contained fuel
(iv) on pipelines, heating coils, pump fittings or other accessories connected to spaces that contain or have last contained fuel
(v) bilges, cargo holds, engine room spaces and boiler spaces not containing dangerous atmospheres.
Walton Pantland, IndustriALL’s director for shipbuilding and shipbreaking, says:
“This shipyard has a compliance certificate, but was clearly not following the correct procedures, which make it clear that flammable material must be removed before cutting starts. Did the company prepare a ship recycling plan? Why wasn’t it followed? Why was no one monitoring it? Workers have lost their lives due to this unforgivable lapse.
“This shows that the Hong Kong Convention on its own is not adequate. It requires an independent government inspectorate and strong unions on the ground to ensure it being adhered to. In addition, ship owners should monitor the compliance of the yards they sell too.”
IndustriALL’s affiliates have demaded compensation for the victims and rehabilitation of the injured workers. According to news reports, the department of environment has suspended the environmental clearance of the SN Corporation Unit-2.
Says Ashutosh Bhattacharya, IndustriALL south Asia regional secretary:
"We stand in solidarity with our shipbreaking affiliates in Bangladesh, mourning the tragic loss of workers' lives in the explosion at SN Corporation’s ship recycling yard. This devastating incident, along with previous accidents, highlights the urgent need for stricter enforcement of safety regulations and stronger protections for workers in hazardous industries. Workers’ lives should never be compromised due to negligence and the failure to follow safety protocols. We demand immediate action to ensure that these tragedies are not repeated.”
Photo: SN Corporation shipbreaking yard, Bangladesh