Bangladeshi Ship-Breaking Yard Claims Another Victim

NGO Shipbreaking Platform A worker died at a Bangladeshi ship-breaking yard in Sitakunda Upazila in the Chittagong District, in the morning hours of January 19 as he was hit by an iron-plate, the Daily Star reported. The deceased has been identified as a 45-year-old resident of Chauddagram upazila of Comilla, Akkas Ali. The worker was employed on dismantling a ship at Asad Steel Ship-Breaking Yard, Madam Bibir Hat, when the accident occurred. Relevant authorities said that the body was sent to Chittagong Medical College Hospital morgue for an autopsy. Due to the lack of proper safety regulations, various types of accidents, often fatal ones, occur at ship-breaking yards in Bangladesh, as the workers are not equipped with the necessary safety gear. According to the Ship Breaking Workers Trade Union Forum, 13 workers were killed in accidents in ship-breaking yards in Chittagong during 2015, while 7 were injured. In the last six years, over 60 workers lost their lives and 125 sustained injuries in ship-breaking yards. World Maritime News Staff