Two workers died after falling into the sea during a work-related incident at Tuas Port on Tuesday (22 Sept) morning.
The duo had been on a work platform that dislodged from the crane and fell into the sea, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) told MS News.
Source: PSA Singapore on Facebook
In response to queries from MS News, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) said it was alerted to a work-related incident at 9.15am on Tuesday, at the sea off Tuas Port.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) told MS News that it also received a call for assistance at 9.10am, from 71 Tuas South Boulevard — the address of Tuas Port.
The incident involved two men, aged 33 and 44. The 44-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene by an SCDF paramedic.
The 33-year-old man was sent to the hospital in an unconscious state. SCDF said he was conveyed to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital (NTFGH).
However, he subsequently passed away there.
No foul play is suspected, based on preliminary investigations, SPF said.
Further police investigations are ongoing.
Source: PSA Singapore on Facebook
An MOM spokesperson said that the incident took place at around 8.40am that day, when the two workers were carrying out stevedoring work.
This refers to the loading and unloading of cargo on ships at port, including stacking and securing.
While they were being lifted on a work platform, it dislodged from the crane and fell into the sea, bringing them together with it.
The 33-year-old worker was immediately rescued from the sea, but was pronounced dead at NTFGH.
The 44-year-old worker was found in the sea later and pronounced dead by SCDF, MOM added.
MOM maintained that lifting equipment and gears have to be properly maintained and inspected before use, as a general safety measure.
This is especially if they are used to lift people, it noted, adding:
Operators of equipment have to comply strictly to operating instructions.
The ministry is investigating the incident.
MOM also revealed that the occupier and employer of the site is PSA Corporation Limited.
Tuas Port, the world’s largest fully automated container terminal, began operations in September 2022.
Last month, it marked the milestone of handling 25 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs). One TEU is the space occupied by a standard 20-foot shipping container.
Source: PSA Singapore
When the port is fully completed sometime in the 2040s, it will occupy about 1,337ha of land (about 3,300 football fields) and have 66 berths with a handling capacity of 65 million TEUs.
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Featured image adapted from PSA Singapore on Facebook.