Nine workers were killed and several others injured following a toxic gas leak during shipbreaking operations at the Ferdous Steel yard in Chattogram, Bangladesh, on August 14.
The accident occurred at the shipbreaking facility in Sitakunda while workers were cutting into a ballast tank of the vessel Rasi. During the operation, they were exposed to a high concentration of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) that had accumulated inside the tank.
Bangladeshi authorities confirmed that excessive concentrations of H₂S were responsible for the fatalities.
According to documentation related to the dismantling of Rasi, the vessel’s ballast water had been discharged on July 5, 2025, when the ship arrived in Chattogram.
However, even after ballast water is removed, organic material and sediment remaining inside enclosed tanks can create conditions for the formation of hydrogen sulfide through the activity of sulfate-reducing bacteria.
Hydrogen sulfide is a highly toxic, colorless gas. At higher concentrations, exposure can rapidly affect a person’s ability to detect its characteristic odor, making it particularly dangerous in enclosed spaces. High concentrations can cause unconsciousness and death within a very short period.
The circumstances surrounding the accident have also raised questions about the regulatory status of the shipbreaking facility.
The environmental clearance issued to Ferdous Steel Ship Recycling by the Department of Environment in Chattogram was valid from August 12, 2025, until August 12, 2026. The fatal accident occurred two days after the permit expired.
Under Bangladeshi regulations, shipbreaking facilities are required to apply for renewal approximately one month before the expiration of their existing environmental clearance.
Reports indicate that Ferdous Steel had not submitted an application for renewal despite approximately 30% of Rasi still remaining to be dismantled.
Following the accident, the Bangladesh Ship Recycling Board suspended operations at Ferdous Steel until further notice.
Authorities also announced that compensation would be provided to the families of the workers who lost their lives in the accident.
The incident comes amid wider concerns regarding safety procedures at the facility. In July, Bangladesh’s Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments reportedly initiated a case concerning alleged safety violations at the yard.
A special investigation committee has now been established to determine the exact circumstances of the August 14 accident, examine possible negligence and identify failures in safety procedures.
The committee is expected to investigate how dangerous concentrations of hydrogen sulfide were allowed to accumulate inside the ballast tank and whether appropriate gas testing, ventilation and enclosed-space safety procedures were carried out before workers entered or began cutting operations.
Its investigation report is expected within a week.
The tragedy once again highlights the serious risks associated with shipbreaking operations, particularly when work involves enclosed spaces such as ballast tanks, fuel tanks and other compartments where toxic or flammable gases can accumulate.
