Bangladesh Shipbreaking Yard Fined $4,000 After Toxic Gas Exposure Kills Nine Workers
Our take
The recent tragedy at a Bangladesh shipbreaking yard, resulting in nine worker deaths due to toxic gas exposure and a subsequent $4,000 fine, underscores a persistent and deeply troubling reality within the global maritime decommissioning industry. This incident, while devastating in its immediate impact, represents a symptom of broader systemic issues surrounding the disposal of end-of-life vessels. The scale of the problem is evident when considering related events, such as the recent sale of sanctioned oil tankers to India for scrapping US Sells 2 Sanctioned Oil Tankers Seized In Venezuelan Operation For Scrap In India, and the ongoing debate surrounding the EU’s approval of Indian shipbreaking yards, a decision that has prompted concerns about a "chilling double standard" NGO Warns EU Approval Of Indian Shipbreaking Yards Could Create ‘Chilling Double Standard’. The low cost of labor in countries like Bangladesh incentivizes this practice, creating a dangerous environment where worker safety is frequently compromised.
The environmental and human cost of shipbreaking is substantial. Vessels often contain hazardous materials – asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), heavy metals – that, if not handled correctly, can contaminate soil, water, and pose severe health risks to workers and surrounding communities. The process itself, often conducted on beaches with rudimentary tools and inadequate safety protocols, presents an inherent danger. The comparatively minor fine levied in this instance highlights the inadequacy of current regulatory frameworks and enforcement mechanisms. While the temporary closure ordered by the Department of Environment is a necessary step, it is a reactive measure rather than a preventative one. A more proactive approach would involve rigorous pre-shipbreaking surveys to identify and mitigate hazardous materials, coupled with mandatory adherence to internationally recognized safety standards and independent oversight. The grounding of the MSC Baltic III MSC Baltic III Being Pulled Ashore In Newfoundland After Grounding In February 2025 further underscores the potential for environmental damage associated with large vessels, even before they reach the end of their operational lives.
The issue extends beyond immediate safety concerns to encompass broader questions of global responsibility and the circular economy. The increasing volume of end-of-life vessels, driven by fleet modernization and technological advancements, necessitates a shift towards more sustainable decommissioning practices. This includes exploring alternative recycling methods that minimize environmental impact and prioritize worker safety, such as controlled dismantling in specialized facilities. Investment in research and development of innovative technologies for hazardous material removal and resource recovery is crucial. Furthermore, a greater emphasis on extended producer responsibility – holding ship owners accountable for the entire lifecycle of their vessels, including their eventual disposal – could incentivize safer and more environmentally sound practices. The current model, where vessels are often sold to the highest bidder with little regard for the consequences, is demonstrably unsustainable.
Looking ahead, the international community must move beyond reactive measures and embrace a more comprehensive and preventative approach to shipbreaking. Enhanced transparency, robust enforcement of existing regulations, and the development of new, internationally binding standards are essential. The question remains: can a truly circular model for maritime decommissioning be achieved, one that balances economic realities with the imperative of protecting human health and the environment? The continued occurrence of tragedies like the one in Bangladesh suggests that significant systemic change is not only needed but urgently required.
Bangladesh’s Department of Environment has fined Ferdous Steel Ship Recycling Industries Tk 500,000 ($4,000) for operating without a valid environmental clearance, days after nine workers died in a toxic gas accident at the shipbreaking yard.
The fine was imposed after a hearing at the department’s Chittagong regional office on Aug. 19, five days after the accident.
The company’s environmental clearance had expired in 2024 and had not been renewed, according to the Department of Environment.
Ferdous Steel has seven working days to pay the fine. The yard has also been ordered to stop all shipbreaking work until its environmental clearance is renewed. The owner’s representative admitted to the violation during the hearing.
The environmental violation is separate from the cause of the workers’ deaths. However, it was found during an inspection carried out after the accident and is the first penalty reported against the yard following the incident.
Nine workers died aboard the vessel
The accident happened on Aug. 14 at about 8:30 a.m. at the Ferdous Steel yard in Sitakunda, Chattogram.
The workers were cutting up the vessel Rasi when they were exposed to toxic gas inside a ballast tank. Nine workers died and several others were injured.
An inspection later detected hydrogen sulfide, or H2S, at 10.8 parts per million inside the vessel. The finding suggested that the gas may have accumulated in the enclosed space.
However, a later inspection by the Fire Service found methane, carbon dioxide and ammonia in two compartments and did not detect hydrogen sulfide.
The exact reason for the gas buildup has not yet been established.
The vessel had been out of service and on the beach for more than a year. Inspectors later found black sludge in three of its ballast tanks. Water samples from the tanks have been sent to a chemical laboratory for testing.
Hydrogen sulfide can form when organic material breaks down without oxygen. It is a known danger in confined spaces, particularly where wastewater or other organic material is present. Investigators have not yet determined how the gas reached dangerous levels inside the tank.
Shipbreaking operations suspended
The Bangladesh Ship Recycling Board ordered Ferdous Steel to stop operations on Aug. 14, shortly after the accident.
BSRB Director General Shafiul Alam Talukder said the suspension would remain until the authorities review inspection and investigation reports.
He said the yard could remain closed if investigators find negligence and conclude that it cannot safely resume work. If the findings show that the yard can operate safely, authorities may consider other measures, including fines under factory and labour laws.
The Department of Environment has separately ordered the yard to remain closed until its environmental clearance is renewed.
The department warned that continuing shipbreaking work despite the order could lead to further legal action, including a court case. It has also asked the company to provide information about its current waste-management practices.
The yard’s administration has been handed over to the local administration.
Three committees investigating the accident
Three committees have been formed to investigate the deaths. They were set up by the Industries Ministry, the Chattogram district administration and the Bangladesh Ship Recycling Board.
The shipping ministry has also launched a formal investigation into the accident.
As of Aug. 15, police had not filed a case over the deaths. Moinul Islam, officer in charge of Sitakunda Police Station, said police had not received a complaint from the victims’ families or instructions from higher authorities to file a case.
Authorities are also working to identify the bodies of the workers who died.
A contractor has been hired to remove any remaining hazards from the ballast tanks. Inspectors have warned that hydrogen sulfide could still be dissolved in the contaminated water inside the tanks, so the removal work must be carried out carefully.
References: networkbangladesh, tbsnews
Read on the original site
Open the publisher's page for the full experience