Nine Workers Die in Toxic Gas Leak at Bangladeshi Shipbreaking Yard
Published on 08/18/2026 at 12:07 | Redaktion boerse-global.de
A toxic gas leak at a ship recycling yard in Bangladesh has killed nine workers, raising fresh questions about safety standards in an industry that supplies steel to global markets. The incident occurred on August 14, 2026, at the Ferdous Steel yard in Sitakunda, where workers were scrapping the LNG carrier MT Rasi, a vessel of approximately 30,770 tons.
Fatal Exposure Inside Ballast Tank
The workers were overcome by hydrogen sulfide (H2S) at around 9:00 AM while operating inside the vessel's ballast tank. Among the dead was 17-year-old Motiur Rahaman; several other employees were injured in the incident.
Hydrogen sulfide is a highly toxic, colourless gas that can cause rapid loss of consciousness and death at elevated concentrations. Three days after the leak, measurements recorded levels between 50 and 80 parts per million (ppm) during low tide — well above the safe exposure limit of 10 ppm for an eight-hour working day.
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Initial reports suggest inspectors may have relied on visual checks using mirrors rather than direct gas measurement instruments before workers entered the tank. The specific reason the gas was not detected beforehand remains unclear.
Safety Record Under Scrutiny
The Ferdous Steel yard holds certification under the Hong Kong Convention (HKC), an international treaty designed to ensure ships are recycled safely and without harming the environment. The convention came into force on June 26, 2025.
However, the Bangladesh Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE) had reportedly begun legal action against the facility a month before the accident over safety deficiencies. The incident has renewed concern about enforcement of the HKC, which sets out requirements for worker protection, hazardous materials management and emergency preparedness at certified yards.
Industry data shows the sector's wider toll. Since the HKC took effect, Bangladesh's shipbreaking industry has recorded 84 accidents, resulting in 15 deaths and 81 injuries. In total, 149 workers have died in the country's shipbreaking yards since 2015.
Investigations and Cleanup Underway
The Bangladesh Ship Breakers and Recyclers Association (BSRA) has ordered a halt to all activity at the yard. Three government bodies and one industrial commission have formed investigation committees.
An eight-member expert panel — including representatives from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), the Maritime University and the Department of Environment — visited the site on August 17, 2026, to identify the gas source and assess safety measures. Private salvage firms, including Alif Marine and Prantik Marine, were brought in to propose methods for clearing the remaining toxic gas and were scheduled to conduct further onsite measurements on August 18.
Labour Groups Demand Accountability
Labour rights leaders organised protests in Dhaka on August 17, 2026, demanding punishment for those responsible for the negligence, adequate compensation for the families of the deceased, and stricter enforcement of workplace safety standards. The NGO Shipbreaking Platform has also called for a fully independent investigation into the causes of the leak at the HKC-certified facility.
