A seafarer lost overboard from a Maersk Line containership off Canada on Sunday was undertaking lashing work while the vessel was underway, the ITF has claimed.
The missing seafarer has been identified as Ravindu Lakmal Pieris Telge. He fell overboard from the 2,902-teu Maersk Patras (built 1998) and despite an extensive search and rescue operation his body has not yet been recovered.
Vince Giannopoulos, an inspector with the ITF, spoke with crew members aboard the Maersk Patras when it docked in Montreal Tuesday.
The crew members told Giannopoulos the second officer was unlashing containers when he fell, according to reports in the Canadian media.
The ITF has called on the Transport Canada to ban foreign-crew from undertaking such activities while vessels are underway in the Saint Lawrence river.
ITF Canadian coordinator Peter Lahay said: “This is a tragic situation for this seafarers’ family, friends and his fellow crewmembers on board the Patras, and sadly our worst fears about the dangers of seafarers lashing cargo on the Saint Lawrence have been realised.
“Early reports indicated that this incident occurred while dropping a pilot ladder, however after speaking to the crew and investigating further, we’ve determined that’s not the case. This seafarer was handling a 4-meter lashing bar, almost half his weight, when he fell overboard.
“We will await the finding of official inquiry but from our initial investigations there are serious questions about crew fatigue and the safety procedures on board that need to be answered.”
The ITF said it has previously met with Transport Canada and advised of their concerns and given evidence of the risks to seafarers lashing vessels underway on the Saint Lawrence.
“We’ve previously urged the Canadian government to shut down this dangerous practice. It’s an undeniable fact that lashing is dangerous work, made more dangerous by terrible weather conditions and serious questions of crew fatigue,” said Lahay.
Rob Ashton, President of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union of Canada added: “It’s curious and absurd that dangerous lashing work on containerships is done at the dock everywhere in Canada except Montreal.
“Really there is nowhere in the world where the dangerous practice of making ship’s crew lash and unlash containers while the ship is moving except Montreal.
“The port of Montreal should accept its responsibility to ensure safety to the seafarers and safety of the environment.”
