U.S. ship hit by explosion in Istanbul shipyard

A gas leak at an Istanbul shipyard has injured six people on a U.S.-flagged freighter that was docked for refurbishment, Associated Press reported Thursday.

Turkey's state-run Anatolia news agency reported, five Turkish workers and an American seaman were hospitalized after the incident Thursday. The Turks are slightly injured, but the condition of the American is unclear.

All six were aboard the 220-meter Liberty Star, operated by Liberty Marine.

According to the AP report, there have been frequent deaths at Tuzla shipyard, on the eastern tip of Istanbul, which labor unions blame on improper safety measures. An official investigation of the shipyard is under way.

Source: American Shipper