Kochi: Tuesday’s blast at the Cochin Shipyard could have been avoided as the oil rig repair work was “a planned and not an emergency one,” said joint director general of shipping Ajithkumar Sukumaran.
However, he denied blaming the CSL for the mishap inside ONGC drilling ship ‘Sagar Bhushan at the drydock killing five workers and injuring seven.
“These kinds of work involve high risk and to avoid any mishaps, strict SOPs are followed, more particularly in the case of Cochin Shipyard,” he told DC.
“These include daily checking and allotting of gas fill permit and inspection of gas leakage every time a worker gets into the vessel at repair. Such practices could detect leakage. Our probe will focus whether the ship repair staff compromised in compliance with the SOPs.”
Earlier, CSL managing director Madhu S. Nair said they suspected 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.
“It happened despite taking all safety precautions.”
Meanwhile, CSL company secretary and spokesperson V. Kala denied reports of the mercantile marine department charging them with failing to place all security systems in place.
“We've got a clarification. The official was simply pointing towards possible carelessness if any shown by the repairing staff,” she said.
