Body recovered in Keppel Shipyard tragedy

The body of the missing Bangladeshi national who fell into the sea when a pier collapsed on Monday at Keppel Shipyard in Singapore as he was working on the Prosperity floating production, storage and offloading vessel for client SBM Offshore has been recovered.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) on Wednesday told reporters it had retrieved a body floating in the water near to the incident site. The worker was pronounced dead at the scene by a paramedic, the SCDF said.

“The body of the missing subcontract worker who fell into the sea following the incident on Monday, 22 August 2022 was found this morning. We would like to express our deepest condolences to the family of the deceased and are rendering our full assistance to them,” a Keppel Shipyard spokesperson told Upstream.

The 38-year old Bangladeshi national was employed by Singapore’s Kumarann Marine.

“Keppel Shipyard values the safety and life of every worker, and we deeply regret this tragic incident,” added the Keppel Shipyard spokesperson.

“We are working closely with the authorities to conduct thorough investigations and review.”

Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower has halted all work on the pier while an investigation is carried out.

Preliminary investigations into Monday’s accident show the concrete pier on which the crane was standing had collapsed, causing it to topple and become partially submerged — throwing two workers into the sea. Another three workers were injured in the accident.

It remains to be seen whether the FPSO has sustained damage that could delay delivery of the vessel to client SBM. The floater is destined for US supermajor ExxonMobil’s Payara field offshore Guyana.

Upstream understands that the hull of the Prosperity FPSO, which was constructed by Chinese yard Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding under SBM’s Fast4Ward concept, could require an independent third-party survey to determine whether any structural damage was caused by Monday’s accident.

In a Facebook post on Tuesday, the National Trades Union Congress-backed Migrant Workers’ Centre (MWC) said the recent spate of workplace accidents in Singapore is a worrying trend.

The MWC — a non-government organisation that aims to champion fair employment practices and the well-being of migrant workers in the city state — said it is “gravely concerned” by yet another workplace accident.

“We are in the process of establishing contact with the worker’s employer, Kumarann Marine, to offer guidance and provide support to the injured workers,” said the MWC.

“Once we obtain the contact details of the injured migrant workers, we will contact them at the earliest opportunity to offer mental health support and provide any additional assistance they might need along the way.

“In the worst-case scenario that he… passes away, we will extend an ex-gratia pay out through the Migrant Workers’ Assistance Fund to provide interim financial assistance to help his next-of-kin to tide over while they await compensation from the Work Injury Compensation Act.

Keppel’s workscope on the FPSO Prosperity includes the fabrication, installation and integration of topsides modules, riser balconies and spread-mooring support structures, as well as supporting client SBM on pre-commissioning and commissioning work.

Despite the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, Netherlands contractor SBM last August said the FPSO remained on schedule for completion in 2024.

“The recent spate of workplace accidents is a worrying trend. #Everyworkermatters and we would like to urge all our migrant brothers and sisters to look out for one another and come forward to report any potentially unsafe work practices,” added the MWC.

“If you or your fellow migrant workers have been tasked to engage in unsafe work practices, we urge you to report such incidences to the authorities without fear of reprisal.”