Officials on night duty at Changzhou Maritime Safety Authorities received an urgent call on the morning of 24 July asking for urgent help with a crew member on board a vessel carrying dangerous cargo. Soon afterwards, a rescue boat reached the DG vessel Dong Mao No.6 where the sick boatswain had already been put on a stretcher.

The rescue boat sped to the nearest ferry terminal where an ambulance was waiting. The man was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead, as a result of xylene poisoning.

The vessel was carrying the aromatic hydrocarbon to Shanghai. After unloading, the vessel was cleaned and was on its way back to Zhenjiang when the accident happened. A passing pilot noticed that the boatswain had collapsed at the bulkhead.

MSA officials have warned that, even after DG vessels are cleaned, important procedures must be followed to avoid such a tragedy. One is that measurements must be taken of oxygen concentration levels before anyone is allowed to enter the hold. Another is that crew members should be observed entering the hold in case they experience difficulties.