Accident during ship repairs; engineer burnt by hot gas at Kollam port

KOLLAM: A third engineer was injured after hot gas leaked from a valve during maintenance work aboard a general cargo vessel at Kollam port on Wednesday. The injured man was identified as Satyaprakash (40), a native of Uttar Pradesh. He suffered burns to his face and abdomen in the incident, which occurred around 1.20 pm. According to information, hot gas leaked through a valve from an air vent on the deck while maintenance work was under way. The gas struck Satyaprakash, causing burns.

On being alerted, the Coastal Police's Yodha boat reached the vessel and brought Satyaprakash ashore. He was subsequently admitted to a private medical college hospital in Kollam. Hospital authorities said he was out of danger.

The vessel, IOL Sapphire, a general cargo ship registered in Nevis and St Kitts, had arrived at Kollam port on June 23 for repairs. It was carrying 4,000 tonnes of rice from Kakinada port in Andhra Pradesh to Guinea in Africa when two of its generators developed faults, following which the vessel anchored at Kollam. The accident occurred while repair work was being carried out on the vessel.