Two Bangladesh Dockworkers Dead In Hold Of Bulk Carrier [Chittagong – 25 July 2017]

Posted by admin on Jul 25, 2017 in Bulletins

Blueoceana Company has learned that two longshore workers at Chittagong were found dead this morning in the hold of the bulk carrier M/V LATIKA NAREE. The two dead workers had, the night before, been engaged in discharging a cargo of logs.

As the linked media account (see below) relates, very little is known about the particulars of their deaths apart from the fact that they were found “deep inside the holds of the ship.” Authorities at Chittagong theorize that the workers “may have slipped on the stairs in the ship while working late at night.”

In the past, dockworkers and crew members have been overcome by oxygen-deficient atmospheres when occupying under deck locations aboard vessels carrying logs. That type of cargo has a propensity to deplete the oxygen content of an enclosed space (such as a cargo hold), and we hope that potential will be considered within the context of any investigation undertaken.

We’ll monitor the news for any further coverage, and will relate any facts uncovered within updates to this post.

Link to Media Account:  Two Chittagong Dockworkers Die (072517)

UPDATE (26 July 2017):  Both of the deceased dockworkers were found dead in the lower hold of hatch No. 2.  Vessel arrived at Chittagong with cargo of logs, Hatch No. 2 was still closed, offloading of Holds 1 and 3 was underway. Police and Port Administration now assume dockers either stumbled in the dark while going down ladder, inhaled toxic gas (in the case of the cargo having been fumigated), or  were similarly overcome by a potential lack of oxygen (caused by the cargo’s propensity to readily absorb oxygen). Both had injures to their heads, inflicted by falling from height.