- The body of the 23-year-old was found by crew mates in the boiler room as the vessel travelled from Sharjah to Alang, in Gujarat, India, where it is to be scrapped.
- Owned by Global Tankers Put of India, and operated in the UAE by Prime Tankers, the Mt Sea Princess has 13 crew.
An investigation started after an Indian seafarer was found dead aboard a tanker off the coast of Khor Fakkan in Sharjah on Saturday, reports a press release from Human Rights at Sea.
Seafarer dead onboard tanker
A 23-year-old seafarer died onboard a Cook Islands flagged vessel, the MT SEA PRINCESS (IMO 8607634), an asphalt bitumen tanker owned by Global tanker Pvt Ltd India and operated by Prime Tankers (UAE), on the afternoon of 28 January 2021 off the UAE coast.
The vessel was en-route with 13 Indian crew from Sharjah to Alang, India, where it is due to be scrapped. The dependents have been informed.
The body of the was found by crew mates in the boiler room as the vessel travelled from Sharjah to Alang, in Gujarat, India, where it is to be scrapped.
Owned by Global Tankers Put of India, and operated in the UAE by Prime Tankers, the Mt Sea Princess has 13 crew.
Investigation underway
David Hammond, chief executive of Human Rights at Sea, a UK-registered charity that was contacted by the ship’s crew, said: “It is with great sadness that we report the tragic and premature death of a young seafarer on-board a Cook Islands-flagged vessel, the Mt Sea Princess.”
“It is pivotal to have a thorough investigation to find ways to prevent further tragic losses,” said Jasmin Fichte, Fichte & Co.
- The general alarm was raised by the master after fellow crew members could not locate the seafarer.
- The crew conducted a full vessel search and the deceased was found the boiler room. The master checked for a pulse, but did not find one.”
A suspected suicide?
The sailor had been on the vessel for 13 months, according to crew members. His death was suspected as a suicide.
It is believed the crew were nearing the end of their contracts as the 28-year-old vessel had been sold for scrap to Al Garhoud General Trading of Dubai on January 6.
The tanker, used for transporting asphalt and bitumen, left Sharjah two week ago and was anchored in international waters off Khor Fakkan when the death was reported.
The Indian Consulate General in Dubai issued a request to board the vessel and recover the body. Officials were told they required permission from prosecutors and police as the ship was not in territorial waters.
“Public prosecution has refused the request as the death happened in the outer water area of Khor Fakkan,” a consulate spokesman said. “The body will only be allowed to enter Khor Fakkan if the death happens in its waters.”
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Source: Human Rights at Sea
