The busy Hyundai-Vinashin shipyard in the Khanh Hao province of Vietnam was a scene of tragedy yesterday with the death of one of two men from the yard's health and safety department.

They had gone down into the hold of a ship following an explosion which injured three shipyard workers. It is understood one of the men had inadvertently opened a gas pipe valve whilst they were at work causing the first explosion.

The men were taken to hospital and the two H&S personnel went into the ship for further inspections. Tragically a second explosion occurred, killing one of the men, aged 43, and causing serious injuries to the other man, who was a 51 year old from South Korea.

The Hyundai-Vinashin shipyard is a highly successful venture, building and repairing ships. So far this year the company has repaired over 50 vessels, largely from Japan and Greece.

It is so far unclear what ship the men had been working on, but recently an LPG carrier arrived at the yard for repairs.