Five Chinese Dockworkers Killed in Shipboard Ammonia Leak [Rongxi, China – 01 March 2019]

Posted by admin on Mar 2, 2019 in Bulletins

Through several media sources, Blueoceana Company has been made to understand that five Chinese workers were suffocated in the cargo hold of a foreign (Hong Kong) flagged vessel last night at Rongxi port (Northeastern China). Moreover, those sources indicate that the workers were asphyxiated owing to an ammonia leak occurring during refrigerated cargo operations.

One of the translated sources indicates that the ship’s name is M/V SHANDONG RONGCHENG, however, no information about that particular vessel appears to be publicly available. Shandong Shipping Corporation does exist as an entity, and a photo of another of that firm’s vessels is set out below. We suspect the veracity of our translated source in setting out a particular ship’s name, and are engaged in checking its accuracy.

Ammonia is sometimes used as a refrigerant in keeping perishables merchantable, but its use has, over time, been rapidly decreasing owing to the significant hazards presented.

Since 2013, half a dozen ammonia leaks at Chinese industrial facilities have been responsible for the deaths of nearly two hundred workers.

Link to Media Account: http://maritimebulletin.net/2019/03/02/10223/