MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Korean jigger accident with ammoniac gas.

For the fifth time this year a Korean fishing vessel moored in the port of Montevideo experienced a leak of ammoniac gas with several crewmembers injured.

The incident occurred last Tuesday in the "Dong Bang" jigger but the situation was quickly put under control by the local Fire Brigade with only one crewmember remaining in hospital according to Montevideo port authorities.

Last May a strong explosion of ammoniac gas in the Korean vessel "Sung Kyung" killed one crewman and left another twelve seriously injured and intoxicated. An ammoniac gas cloud covered great part of the fishing vessels moors forcing the evacuation of Montevideo residents in the immediate area.

Ammoniac gas is used for cold storage in Korean vessels and according to Uruguayan safety officials the "poor maintenance conditions" of the equipments are the main reason for the several accidents occurred this year.

Uruguay's Fire Department revealed that this year there have been thirty reports of ammoniac gas leaks in the port of Montevideo, all from fishing vessels.

"The great majorities of these emergencies is short lived and haven't had major consequences with the exception of the May tragic accident in the "Sung Kyung". In all cases poor and null maintenance of equipment using ammoniac gas are to blame", highlighted Inspector Celso Da Silva from the Montevideo Fire Department.