In the latest Personal Injury Bulletin, the Standard P&I Club considers the subject of crew deaths on board a vessel which is in Singapore or due to call at Singapore in the course of or at the end of her voyage and provides guidance to shipowners to assist to cope during this difficult situation.
What should the shipowner do
As soon as possible, preserve all evidence, documents and information relating to the deceased and the death to facilitate investigations into the deceased’s death, particularly the cause of death. The master//shipowner should, inter alia:
- photograph the position and condition of the deceased’s body when found (including any injuries and/or marks on the deceased’s body) and the area where the body was found;
- retain the deceased’s personal belongings, and any documents/ items relating to the deceased (including email messages) and/or the death, taking care to leave them where they are, if feasible, but to secure them and the place of incident; and
- properly preserve the deceased’s body
As soon as practicable, report the deceased’s death to the shipowner and a Singapore police officer (where applicable).Also notify the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority of Singapore.
Notify the Port Health Office of the Singapore National Environment Agency not less than four hours and not more than 12 hours before arrival.
If the vessel is Singapore-registered and the death occurred outside Singapore3 or if the deceased is a Singapore citizen , report the death as soon as practicable but within 30 days after the death to the Director of Marine of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA). In the former case, as soon as practicable, but not more than three days after the death, also notify such persons (if any) named by the deceased to be next-of-kin of the death.
Additionally, if the vessel is Singapore-registered:
- report the death to the Director of Marine of the MPA within 24 hours.
- probe the nature and cause of the death, and submit an inquiry report8 to the MPA.
- the deceased’s employer or principal should notify the Singapore Commissioner For Labour and their P&I club in writing of the death, not later than 10 days after the date of the incident.
Take charge of all of the deceased’s property left on board the vessel and make an entry in the official log book signed by the master and another crew member of a list of such property.
Appoint lawyers to protect their interests, where deemed necessary.
Further information may be found by reading Standard P&I Club ‘Personal Injury Bulletin’
Source: The Standard P&I Club
