AsiaShipyards

Acetylene leak suspected in deadly Cochin Shipyard blast

Officials are increasingly thinking a welding accident was behind Tuesday’s blast at India’s Cochin Shipyard, which killed five workers and injured many more.

The explosion happened during routine maintenance work of an oil rig belonging to ONGC.

Investigations are still ongoing but the yard’s managing director Madhu Nair has gone on the record to say the yard suspects the leakage of acetylene as the cause.

“We suspect the cause of explosion to be gas entrapment, oxygen or acetylene, in various pockets of the 237-cubic meter capacity tank. This as welding works were progressing in the potable water tank. However, only a detailed probe would reveal the exact cause,” he said.

Sam Chambers

Starting out with the Informa Group in 2000 in Hong Kong, Sam Chambers became editor of Maritime Asia magazine as well as East Asia Editor for the world’s oldest newspaper, Lloyd’s List. In 2005 he pursued a freelance career and wrote for a variety of titles including taking on the role of Asia Editor at Seatrade magazine and China correspondent for Supply Chain Asia. His work has also appeared in The Economist, The New York Times, The Sunday Times and The International Herald Tribune.
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