Nine Killed by Toxic Gas Aboard LNG Carrier Being Scrapped

Nine shipbreaking workers died after suspected exposure to hydrogen sulphide gas while dismantling the former LNG carrier HL Ras Laffan at a yard in Sitakunda's Bhatiari area of Chattogram, Bangladesh. The vessel, built in 2000 and known as RASI (IMO 9176008), was anchored adjacent to Ferdous Steel Shipyard, where firefighters recovered the workers from inside the ship. According to Mohammad Yusuf, manager of the shipyard, the 138,000-cubic-metre LNG carrier was nearly finished being cut apart when liquid waste was discovered in one section of the hull. The fatalities occurred when a safety officer and other personnel entered to inspect the area. Bangladesh's Department of Explosives said the hydrogen sulphide gas had accumulated in a ballast area rather than an LNG cargo tank, and measured 10.8 ppm of H2S roughly four hours after the incident. The vessel was previously known as Hanjin Ras Laffan before being renamed HL Ras Laffan and later RASI ahead of demolition. The deaths highlight the continued hazards of ship recycling operations in South Asia, where workers regularly face risks from toxic gases, structural collapses and fires while dismantling large ocean-going vessels. Authorities have not yet announced further findings on the source of the gas accumulation or any resulting safety measures.