A prominent scientist from the UK was tragically killed in a fatal explosion on a cargo ship in Malaysia. Darren Holling, 49, who worked as a safety chief from Durham, was conducting an investigation into a fire on the vessel when the blast occurred. The incident took place as cargo was being unloaded from the ship MSC Kyparissia. The explosion not only claimed Darren’s life but also resulted in the deaths of engineer Diaday Jason Hernia, 39, from the Philippines, and safety inspector Sugumaran Kolanthai, 59, from Malaysia.
Following the explosion, two crew members and an inspector sustained injuries and were swiftly taken to a nearby hospital from the Port of Tanjung Pelepas in Johor Bahru. Maritime authorities confirmed the tragic loss of Darren, who was a partner at the safety consultancy firm Burgoynes.
The Iskandar Puteri Fire and Rescue Station received an emergency call regarding the incident at 12:23 pm on Friday. Investigations revealed that the fire broke out during container unloading activities in the under hatch of Block 5, leading to casualties among the workers.
Further details from the Marine Department of Malaysia indicated that the ship, captained by Novak Petr, 60, had detected smoke shortly after departing the port on November 5, prompting a return to port for inspection. Darren, known for his expertise in chemical incident investigations, was summoned from Singapore to assess the situation onboard the vessel. Fortunately, no hazardous or toxic gases were reported to have been released during the explosion and subsequent fire.
After the incident, the vessel returned to seek emergency assistance, and safety measures were implemented to prevent any further risks. The affected area was secured, and necessary precautions were taken to ensure the safety of all personnel involved. The Marine Department of Malaysia expressed condolences to the families of the victims.
Darren, who held a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Durham and was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, had an extensive career investigating numerous fires, explosions, and chemical incidents across various regions.
