What happened?
Before starting work in the morning in engine room, the deceased told his peer that he could not sleep the previous night because his mind was ‘full of matters’. The said peer told the deceased that “it is alright. Relax. Take it easy.”
That evening, the deceased and other two deck ratings, D1 and D2 cooked and dined together. During the meal, the deceased shared his sleeping difficulties to them. When asked about the cause, he expressed uncertainty about his inability to sleep. After dining, all of them retired to their respective cabins for the night.
D1 felt uneasy in his cabin thinking of the deceased’s sharing. After a while, he initiated to knock on the deceased locked cabin to check on him but received no response. D1 then went to the bridge to report the situation to the duty officer, who promptly alerted the Chief Officer. Using the master key, the Chief Officer opened the deceased cabin only to find it vacant. The Chief Officer immediately informed the Master and a search for the deceased ensued.
During the search, the deceased was found hanging by his neck, on a nylon snotter that was secured through an overhead monorail track in the engine room workshop.
Why did it happen?
Investigation ruled out foul play in the above incident.
Conclusion and recommendations
On board
Masters and crew members should maintain heightened awareness of potential warning signs concerning the wellbeing of colleagues, including:
When such signs are observed, immediate escalation to senior management is essential. Early intervention may prevent tragic outcomes.
Company
Companies should implement a comprehensive mental health support framework that includes:
These preventive measures are crucial for safeguarding crew welfare and preventing incidents of self-harm or disappearance at sea.