Three Killed in Bangladesh Port as Shuttle Tanker Explodes

An explosion on a shuttle tanker moored at the Eastern Refinery in Chittagong, Bangladesh, resulted in the deaths of three crew members on September 30. The blast triggered a fire that prompted the Coast Guard, Navy, and local resources to respond. Several vessels had to be relocated to a safer area.

The explosion occurred around 11:00 am local time, ripping through the forward part of the 14,500 dwt shuttle tanker Banglar Jyoti. Thick smoke was seen rising from the vessel, and later images revealed the deck severely damaged, with debris scattered. Port authorities confirmed they were checking the surrounding waters for more wreckage.

Due to the severity of the explosion, survival was deemed impossible. By the end of the day, authorities had recovered the body of a deck cadet and another, yet unidentified, individual. Reports also mentioned two missing technicians, and rescue teams continued their search amid the wreckage.

The Banglar Jyoti, a tanker built in 1987 and owned by the Bangladesh Shipping Corporation, typically transported oil from offshore tankers to the refinery.

Conflicting reports suggest that the crew was either conducting maintenance or offloading 11,000 tons of crude oil when the incident occurred. The fire was brought under control after two to three hours, with assistance from eight firefighting units, as well as Navy and Coast Guard teams.

An inquiry team has already been established to investigate the cause of the explosion. This tragedy follows another recent incident in the area, where six workers died, and six more were severely injured while dismantling a retired tanker at a Chittagong scrapyard. Following that incident, employer associations raised concerns over inadequate safety regulations. The board of inquiry imposed fines, suspended the breaker’s operating license, and issued numerous safety recommendations, with six workers still receiving treatment for burns in the hospital.

Image credit: BanglaNews