2. The Panel will be chaired by Mr Low Wong Fook, Principal of Singapore Polytechnic and the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health for Metalworking Industry, Ministry of Manpower. Two other members are Mr Heng Chiang Gnee, President of the Association of Singapore Marine Industries and Deputy President of SembCorp Marine Ltd, and Mr Chan Yew Kwong, Deputy Director (Engineering and Administration) of the Occupational Safety Department at the Ministry of Manpower.

3. The Terms of Reference for the Panel are:
a) Investigate and ascertain the causes and circumstances of the fire onboard the vessel “Almudaina” at Keppel Shipyard Limited at 15 Benoi Road on 29 May 2004.
b) Make recommendations to prevent the recurrence of such an accident.
c) Make any observations and express any opinion on matters related to the accident which the Panel in its opinion should bring to the attention of the Ministry.
d) Make and submit to the Ministry a report (together with a summary) of its findings and recommendations.

4. The panel will visit the scene at 12:30pm on 3 June 2004.

BACKGROUND OF INCIDENT

5. On 29 May 2004, seven workers were carrying out hot work to replace some structural steel brackets inside No. 3 Cargo Oil Tank (Starboard) on board a crude tanker “Almudaina” in the shipyard. At about 1pm, a flash fire occurred inside the tank, killing seven workers.