18 Injured as Toxic Gas Leaks from Irish Cargoship

5th December 2012

#SHIP TOXIC LEAK - Eighteen people are being treated after toxic gas used to kill rodents escaped from an Irish flagged dry-cargoship docked at Warrenpoint, Co Down.

The cargo on board Arklow Meadow had become wet and unstable. The gas is aluminium phosphide, a pesticide used to kill small mammals such as moles and rodents.

Gardaí have been informed of the potential of the chemical compound to drift into Co Louth. It is understood they are going house-to-house in the Omeath area advising householders to stay indoors and close all windows. For more on this story, RTE.ie reports.

Afloat.ie adds that the 2010 South Korean built vessel is owned by Arklow Shipping Ltd and is one of a five 'M' class series.These vessels each have a total grain capacity of 18,110m3 as previously reported, including the Arklow Manor which last month was dry-docked in Dublin Port.

Published in Ports & Shipping

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Jehan Ashmore

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Jehan Ashmore is a marine correspondent, researcher and photographer, specialising in Irish ports, shipping and the ferry sector serving the UK and directly to mainland Europe. Jehan also occasionally writes a column, 'Maritime' Dalkey for the (Dalkey Community Council Newsletter) in addition to contributing to UK marine periodicals.

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