TWO workers onboard a ship undergoing repairs in Singapore died while 301 others were evacuated on Friday following a fire, authorities and a shipyard operator said.

The workers were evacuated after thick smoke was detected from the ship, said Sembawang Shipyard Pte Ltd, a unit of oil rig builder SembCorp Marine Ltd, in a statement.

Two of the workers, a Bangladeshi and an Indian national, were found in the ship and pronounced dead on arrival at a hospital, the statement said.

Police said investigations into the fire were ongoing and that a coroner's inquiry will be held.

The Manpower Ministry also said it was looking into the incident and that work on the ship has been stopped.