The Chairman of Merlus Management, Stanley Katzao, has denied that their factory is the source of the ammonia leak that exposed its workers to dangerous, life-threatening fumes.

Katzao instead blamed a crab vessel operated by a Russian company that was docked at Perreira, which is adjacent to the Merlus property, for the leak.

He said an ammonia leak allegedly coming from that vessel was blown into the direction of the Merlus-Cormorant factory and entered it via the windows. 

In a statement issued by the company, it said that after a thorough investigation, it was established that the leak came from the crab vessel docked at the Pereira quay.

The police, according to Katzao, also came around to the Merlus factory and went over to Pereira to investigate the leak.

The chairman said that his company adheres to best practices in managing occupational safety for its workers and acted swiftly when it was discovered that its employees were exposed to ammonia.