Two marine firms assess toxic gas mitigation at Ferdous Steel yard

Two marine companies are assessing how to safely mitigate toxic hydrogen sulphide gas at Ferdous Steel Ship Recycling Yard in Sitakunda, where nine workers were killed last Friday after being exposed to the gas.

A seven-member expert committee has been formed to oversee the operation and determine how the gas, contaminated water and sludge inside the ballast tank of the dismantled vessel can be safely removed, AKM Shafiul Alam Talukder, director general of the Bangladesh Ship Recycling Board, told The Business Standard.

The Ministry of Industries had earlier formed a three-member inspection team comprising Buet chemical engineering professor Md Easir Arafat Khan, Bangladesh Maritime University director Captain Md Shoyeb Ahmed and Department of Explosives assistant explosives inspector Mohammad Mehedi Islam Khan.

Five officials were later added: Department of Environment Divisional Director Jamir Uddin, Engineer Mahbubur Rahman, Captain Anam Chowdhury, Department of Explosives assistant explosives inspector Shakhawat Hossain and an Assistant Director from Chattogram Fire Service.

The committee will oversee the technical assessment and mitigation operation and select one of the two companies it deems best suited to safely carry out the job.

Two firms to assess site

Alif Marine and Pratik Marine separately presented their mitigation proposals to the committee on Sunday. They were asked to visit the site on Monday with their own equipment, assess the gas and collect preliminary data before submitting detailed plans.

"Tomorrow (today) they will go to the site with their own devices and equipment and identify, as far as possible, the presence and intensity of the gas," Shafiul Alam said yesterday.

The committee will evaluate the proposals on technical and financial grounds before selecting the most competent company. "Money is not the issue here. Safety, security and saving lives are the priority," he said.

Gas, water and sludge

The mitigation plans must explain how the gas will be removed using blowers or other equipment, along with safety protocols, safe distances and potential health risks.

The companies will also assess whether pumping and discharging the contaminated water could harm aquatic biodiversity or pose other environmental risks. Much of the water has already mixed with seawater because of tides, with its concentration becoming similar to seawater, Shafiul Alam said.

Remaining sludge will be collected separately, tested for toxicity and placed in appropriate containers for safe disposal.

Probe into gas generation

Investigators will determine why such a high concentration of hydrogen sulphide formed inside the ballast tank, which normally should not generate it.

They will examine whether organic material, sewage, sludge or other contaminants entered the tank and whether biological material decomposed there. Shafiul Alam said testing was needed to determine whether malpractice, such as dumping sewage or sludge to reduce costs, had occurred.

Air, water and sludge samples were to be collected during low tide yesterday using self-contained breathing apparatus and other safety equipment. The samples will be tested against permissible limits, and air and water will be tested again after mitigation.

More than 30 officials from the Ministry of Industries, Department of Environment, Department of Explosives, Fire Service, police and local administration are involved, alongside 10-12 Fire Service personnel.

The teams will remain until the site is certified and declared safe and all toxic materials are removed. "The government is very serious about this. Until the site is finally certified and declared safe, the teams will continue working here," Shafiul Alam said.

The incident occurred last Friday morning when workers were exposed to gas inside the vessel's ballast tank; nine were killed and several others injured.