Death ship not allowed to berth at Durban, Crew to be checked by Doc

After an emergency, two seamen from a vessel at Durban port were hospitalized,both died in hospital due to malaria.

Following the death, the South African Maritime Safety Authority (Samsa) said the ship the men had been on was prohibited from berthing at the Durban harbour until the crew had been examined by a doctor.

The two men, a 53-year-old Panamanian and a 53-year old Filipino, died of malaria at Netcare St Augustine’s Hospital.

Captain Saroor Ali, Samsa’s East Coast regional manager, said a doctor had to examine each crew member before the vessel was allowed to dock at the harbour.

“The ship is at Outer Port Limits and will be permitted to berth after a doctor from port boards the vessel for inspection and certifies that it is safe for it to berth,” Ali said.