Case study: Death on board due to delay in seeking shore medical consultation

What happened?

A vessel’s master (VM), who was unwell, was planned by the company to sign-off at discharge port (“disport”). Disport agent advised that the signing-off requirements included applying for an exit visa that needed 5 - 7 working and processing day; and it was impossible for foreign crew, which VM was, to sign-off at the disport if vessel’s port stay was less than a week. Disport agent further advised that it was only possible for VM to consult shore doctor when the vessel berthed alongside at designated terminal.

The company had arranged a new master (NM) to relieve VM at the disport. However, such relief was only possible when the vessel berthed alongside at designated terminal, i.e., crew change was not allowed at anchorage. The vessel had anchored for 8 days before berthing at a different terminal. At the different terminal, VM went ashore for medical consultation. His medical report stated that he had gastritis and there was no medicine prescribed to him by his doctor.

Due to festive celebration and 3-day port stay at the disport, the exit visa was not possible to be processed before the vessel’s departure day, i.e., less than 5 - 7 working days after berthing. As VM could not sign off at the disport, he had to follow the vessel under NM’s command to the next port: loading port.

While on board, VM’s health condition was continuously monitored by NM and his officers. Radio Medicare Service (RMS) had also established continuous communication with NM to monitor VM’s health condition. NM had also administered medications on VM based on the RMS’s advice. Three (3) days after departing the disport, VM’s condition worsened. Six (6) days after departing the disport, VM passed away on board when NM was on the verge of deviating the vessel from the planned route to the nearest port to land VM ashore for medical treatment.

Challenges faced by VM

From what had been gathered, there was several delays in sending VM ashore for medical treatment. Additionally, due to local port rules and period to process an exit visa for off-signer, VM was not able to sign off at disport. It was also unknown why VM was not prescribed with medication for gastritis at the shore medical facility at disport.

Conclusion

This incident is inconclusive of the cause of VM’s demise but could be an important one, namely for ship owners and managers to consider having a fallback plan / process, if not already established; in case their master and crew faced with a similar situation in the future.

On a different note, we welcome ship owners and/or managers to feedback or suggest to us (shipping@mpa.gov.sg, mmo@mpa.gov.sg and ivd@mpa.gov.sg) regarding remedial actions/measures to prevent recurrence of this unfortunate incident.