The incident took place on Saturday on the 32,900-dwt vessel Swarajya (built 1998, formerly Suvarna Swarajya), which had been beached on SN Corporation's plot since April. The explosion reportedly happened in the pump room of the partially dismantled tanker, highlighting ongoing safety concerns at ship recycling yards in Bangladesh.
According to local media reports, 12 workers were taken to the hospital, with nine suffering severe burn injuries covering up to 90% of their bodies. Among the injured was a safety manager, who later died from his injuries.
Safety Issues in Scrapping, Bangladesh
In response, the Chattogram District Administration has set up an eight-member committee to investigate the incident. The Bangladesh Department of Environment (DoE) and the Ministry of Industry have suspended all operations at SN Corporation’s yards until further notice.
The DoE has issued a notice to SN Corporation, requiring them to explain within three working days why their operations should not be permanently closed.
Authorities are currently investigating whether SN Corporation violated environmental and safety regulations. Despite being one of the few ship recycling companies in Bangladesh certified under the Hong Kong Convention, SN Corporation's operations have come under scrutiny following this incident.
A manager from SN Corporation described the accident as unfortunate but claimed the company had adhered to safety protocols. Young Power in Social Action, a local NGO focused on sustainability, reported that 140 workers have died and many more have been injured at ship recycling facilities in Bangladesh between 2014 and 2024.