A yard worker at Fukuoka Shipbuilding in Japan has been seriously injured after falling from a ladder while working in the cargo hold of a chemical tanker newbuilding.

The Friday morning accident at the company's Nagasaki shipyard was connected to construction of a 36,000-dwt chemical tanker, which is one of two being built for a local unnamed Japanese shipowner.

The tankers are to be operated by Odfjell under a long-term charter contract.