Report

Subject:                     Anger as Greek LPG carrier blast kills eight

Date of Email report:   Sat 26/07/2008

Report Detail:

GREECE has launched an investigation into yesterday’s fatal blast on board a liquefied petroleum gas carrier that killed eight men, but workers are calling for a wider probe into shipyard safety standards at the country’s crowded Perama ship repair zone. 

Police used tear gas against protesters in angry scenes outside Greece’s ministry of merchant marine this morning as unions and opposition politicians turned their fire on the government for alleged indifference to safety in the industry. 

A blast ripped through the 1981 built FriendshipGas at about 4 pm local time, but the resulting blaze prevented rescuers boarding the ship for another five hours. 

Apart from the dead, who were believed to include the ship’s Filipino first officer, according to a number of sources, another four workers were hospitalized and treated for burns and respiration problems. 

The accident, which is the latest in a rash of fatal mishaps at shipyards internationally this year, is  thought to be the second worst in terms of deaths in Perama’s history. 

In September 1988, an explosion almost cut in two the tanker Anangel Greatness, costing 16 lives, while one year ago two workers died in virtually the same spot in Perama when a fire broke out aboard the tanker Ailsa Craig, an incident which sparked similar protests. 

Altogether, about 800 accidents in the region have been reported since 2000, although by no means all of these led to loss of life. 

Three people have already been arrested in connection with the latest tragedy including the vessel’s master. A safety officer and a marine chemicals superviser have also been arrested, according to the ministry, but the investigation is continuing. 

It is not clear how many of the ship’s regular crew were on the LPG carrier at the time of the incident, but the ship had at least two crews of workers on board, undertaking painting and welding. 

The 4,965 dwt Friendshipgas is one of seven LPG vessels in the fleet of Athens based Magnus Carriers, which also manages several container vessels and product tankers for Nasdaq listed Aries Maritime Transport. 

Magnus’ website lists the vessel as chartered to an energy company but this charter is understood to have been concluded some while ago. 

Company executives could not be reached for additional information today. 

According to the Equasis database, the ship is classed by Bureau Veritas and covered by the North of England P&I Club. 

Claiming conditions in the industrial and repair area are unsafe and regulations are not being properly applied, unions representing workers in the Perama zone immediately called a three day strike, starting with Friday’s protest march on the ministry.