Shuttle Tanker Explosion in Bangladesh: 3 Dead

A shuttle tanker exploded at the Eastern Refinery in Chittagong, Bangladesh on September 30, resulting in the tragic deaths of three crewmembers. The incident caused a fire, prompting the Coast Guard, Navy, and local resources to respond and move nearby vessels to a safety zone. The explosion tore through the forward section of the 14,500 dwt shuttle tanker, Banglar Jyoti, at 11:00 am local time, with a large plume of smoke rising from the vessel. Images showed the deck ripped apart and thrust upward, while port officials searched the harbor for debris.

The intensity of the explosion was described as unsurvivable, leading to the recovery of a deck cadet’s body and another unidentified body. Two technicians were still missing following the explosion, and rescue teams continued to search the wreckage. The shuttle tanker, owned by the Bangladesh Shipping Corporation and built in 1987, was utilized to transport oil from larger offshore tankers to the Eastern Refinery. Reports indicated that the crew was either making repairs on the vessel or offloading crude from larger tankers offshore when the incident occurred.

An inquiry team has been formed to investigate the explosion, which occurred in a month where six workers lost their lives and six were injured at a scrapyard in Chittagong while working on a retired tanker. Employers had previously raised concerns about lax safety regulations enforcement. The breaker at the scrapyard was fined, its operating license suspended, and six workers remained hospitalized with burns. The inquiry board made extensive safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.

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