The Philippine Embassy in Australia is closely monitoring the investigation into the death of a 63-year-old Filipino crew member who was found dead at a beach in Vanuatu, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Monday.
In a statement, the DFA said the local manning agency of the dead seafarer is already in touch with its principal company, as well as with its local company in Vanuatu to facilitate the investigation of the case.
“The embassy is closely monitoring this ongoing investigation of the seaman’s death. The embassy in Australia stands ready to provide the appropriate assistance on the repatriation of the remains,” DFA Executive Director for Strategic Communications Ivy Banzon-Abalos told reporters.
Reports showed that the body of the Filipino seaman, a crewmember of British-flagged tanker Inge Kolsan, was found at Pango Beach off the coast of Port Vila harbor on Sunday, April 11, 2021.
Local authorities said the ship was already sailing out of Port Vila on Sunday when they learned that one of its crew was missing. The tanker was immediately ordered to return to the port as port authorities launched a search and rescue mission.
As soon as the body was found, it was immediately brought to the Vanuatu Central Hospital morgue where it has also undergone COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) testing.
The dead Filipino seaman, according to reports, tested positive for COVID-19 which prompted Vanuatu’s capital island of Efate to impose a three-day lockdown to allow contact tracing procedure.
Vanuatu authorities reportedly detained the Inge Kosan tanker pending the outcome of the investigation.
The DFA said they have not received any information if the remains of the Filipino seaman had indeed tested positive for COVID-19.