Hanwha Ocean Okpo Shipyard Halts Production After 8 Months Due to Fatal Accident

Production Halt Due to Major Accident Occurs for the Third Time This Year

At Hanwha Ocean Okpo Shipyard, a worker fatality occurred, halting operations. This is the third production stoppage due to a serious accident this year.

On the 10th, Hanwha Ocean announced a complete suspension of production at the Okpo Shipyard. Hanwha Ocean stated, "We will halt all company operations and conduct special safety training and inspections to eradicate serious accidents."

This follows a nighttime accident on the 9th. A subcontractor worker, Mr. A, fell from approximately 30 meters above the ship under construction around 10:57 PM. Mr. A was severely injured and transported to the hospital in cardiac arrest but ultimately passed away. It is known that Mr. A was working on shipbuilding processes at the time of the accident.

A large crane installed at Okpo Shipyard.
Photo by Yonhap News

Previously, the Okpo Shipyard also experienced fatal accidents on January 12 and 25, which led to production stoppages. On the 12th, Mr. B, a subcontractor employee in his 20s, died in an explosion at the ship rudder manufacturing factory, and on the 25th, a subcontractor diver, Mr. C, lost consciousness during work and was transported to the hospital but ultimately died.

Last month, another fatal accident occurred. Mr. D, a subcontractor worker in his 60s, collapsed while resting near the ship engine room at the Geoje facility and was transported to the hospital but eventually died.

The labor community claims that the employer lacked preventive measures against the heatwave, attributing the deaths to serious accidents. On the 3rd, the Gyeongnam branch of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions held a press conference in front of the Changwon Employment and Labor Office, stating, "The death of Hanwha Ocean subcontractor workers from heat-related illnesses is a serious accident," and demanded, "Hanwha Ocean should apologize to the bereaved families, and the Ministry of Employment and Labor must investigate the serious accidents."

A Hanwha Ocean official said, "We are currently investigating the specific cause of the accident."