A Saga Welco-operated bulker has been cleared to continue its voyage in Uruguay after the death of its first officer was found to be the result of a heart attack.
The 55,800-dwt open-hatch vessel Saga Faith (built 2019) had contacted authorities in the South American country earlier in April after the officer developed respiratory problems and fell unconscious, prompting fears of Covid-19 cases on the ship while it was at Montevideo.
A medical team could not save the 38-year-old Indian national after boarding the ship.
But the rest of the crew is fine and there have been no outbreaks on the vessel, said Katsuhito Yamane, chairman and managing director of the ship's Norwegian owner. Saga Shipholding.
"The cause of death was confirmed heart attack, not a respiratory case, and therefore not Covid-19 related at all," he told TradeWinds.
"The vessel has already been cleared by Montevideo authorities and she has proceeded to and arrived at the next port of loading in Uruguay."
Owner's regret
The managing director said: "We regret this sad incident and we heartily express our sincere condolence to the family of the deceased."
The vessel had been en route from Brazil, which is suffering a Covid-19 surge.
The National Navy of Uruguay had reported that a vessel was due to bring the body ashore. The local authority had been due to carry out a post-mortem examination to determine the cause of death.
Incidents increasing
A spate of Covid-19-related incidents have been reported on ships in the last two months.
Earlier in April, the Pacific Ocean island of Vanuatu went into lockdown after the body of a seafarer who later tested positive for Covid-19 was found on a beach.
The Filipino man in his 40s served on the 3,678-cbm LPG carrier Inge Kosan (built 2011), operated by BW Epic Kosan. Cause of death has not yet been revealed.
On 19 April, TradeWinds reported that a Greek bulker was quarantined in Crete after a crewman was found dead in his cabin, while 10 others later tested positive for Covid-19.
The seafarer was discovered on the 182,000-dwt Heroic (built 2010), owned by CM Lemos company Nereus Shipping, Greece's Hellenic Coast Guard said.
