Filipino Seafarer Dies Post-Beaching at Alang Shipbreaking Yard; Investigation Underway
Bhavnagar: A crew member of a foreign vessel passed away shortly after the ship was beached for dismantling at Plot No. V-7 in the Alang Ship Breaking Yard on Saturday. Local police have initiated a formal inquiry into the incident to ascertain the exact cause of death.
According to preliminary reports, the chemical tanker Stolt Kiko was successfully beached at Plot V-7 on July 25 at around noon. Following standard procedure, crew members remain onboard until the high tide waters recede, after which they disembark onto land along with their personal belongings. By late evening, as the tide receded, the crew was brought ashore.
However, one of the crew members, identified as Rolanjay Pepito from the Philippines, was found in an unconscious state during disembarkation. He was immediately rushed to a local medical facility in Alang for urgent intervention. Upon examination, the attending doctor declared him brought dead. The police department was promptly informed and has begun legal proceedings.
The incident has brought renewed attention to the safety and welfare conditions of foreign seafarers arriving at the yard. Stakeholders point out that foreign crew members often face precarious situations during the disembarkation phase. Navigating from large ships down to small transport boats and reaching the shore poses recurring hazards, occasionally leading to accidents due to a lack of adequate state-level support mechanisms and specialized transit safety.
Industry observers note that repeated mishaps during beaching operations highlight the need for improved coordination and emergency medical protocols by relevant authorities to safeguard foreign workers and uphold India’s international reputation in maritime recycling.
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