Saga-Frontier

Three dockworkers were killed last Saturday at the Port of Antwerp after unloading coal from an open hatch cargo ship. The three workers were reported to have suffocated when they entered the open cargo hold of the Hong Kong-flagged MV Saga Frontier to clean it. The three killed were all said to be experienced dockworkers. Local media reported Thursday that investigators are looking into the possibility of negligence on behalf of the Captain and crew for not alerting the dockworkers to the presence of toxic gases in the hold. A statement by International Transport Workers’ Federation President and chair, Paddy Crumlin, said “We can never relax on port safety and accident prevention. Antwerp is a port where health and safety is taken very seriously, and, like the three men’s trade unions, we are confident that a full investigation will take place into what happened and how any resulting lessons can be implemented.”

Chennai, March 15: The Indian Coast Guard on Saturday evacuated an injured Indian sailor from a foreign registered cargo ship on the high seas 70 nautical miles off Kanyakumari, the marine security agency said. In a statement issued here, Coast Guard said at early hours on March 14 a medical emergency call was received by Coast Guard Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre here from MV Saga Frontier sailing from Singapore to Antwerp. According to the statement, an Indian sailor M.B. Abdul Kadeer on the foreign cargo ship sustained head injury due to a serious fall on the ship's deck. On receipt of the emergency call, Coast Guard ship Abhiraj reached the merchant vessel sailing from Tuticorin carrying a medical team. The medical team rendered the first aid to the injured sailor and evacuated him. On reaching the Tuticorin harbour, the injured sailor was handed over to the local shipping agent and was rushed to a private hospital for treatment. The Coast Guard said the sailor is responding to the treatment and recovering well.(IANS) Report with photo: http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/timely-assistance-from-icg-saves-life-of-merchant-vessel-crew/article6998112.ece