Mariners Die While Working in Ship’s Cargo Hold

Three crew members of the Panama-flagged general cargo vessel Apollo Kita died after losing consciousness’s in the ship’s cargo hold, Nikkei reported citing local authorities.
The ship was en route from Kalimantan, Malaysia to Hanan, Japan, carrying timber on November 9, when the incident occurred.
Once found, the three men were rushed to a hospital in Ishigaki, however, they were unresponsive and declared dead. The three seafarers of Philippine nationality are believed to have asphyxiated while working in the cargo hold.
The vessel was manned by a total of 17 crew members, including a Japanese captain.
An investigation into the incident is underway.
The accident is being reported as seafarers are urged to identify measures to reduce risks of accidents in enclosed spaces. InterManager, the international trade association for the ship management sector, has launched a campaign to encourage seafarers to help boost safety in enclosed spaces.