Sailor dies during Atlantic storm near Nova Scotia

By Michael McGrady, Maritime Direct Americas Correspondent

According to reports, D’Amico Group’s Malta-flagged Giulia I departed port in Norfolk, Virginia, on January 26 to embark on an Atlantic crossing for a port of call in Tunisia. 

However, the vessel found herself in an Atlantic storm that featured high seas and powerful winds offshore. 

20 Filipino crew members had a rough ride in the storm. After 2 PM local time, the Giulia I issued a distress call on January 30. The vessel was 320 nautical miles southeast, off the province of Nova Scotia, in Canada.

Because of the chop and the dangerous weather, three crew members were injured while a 30-year-old sailor died from what could be blunt trauma. Reports have yet to confirm this.

Due to the injuries and death, Giulia I diverted to refuge in Halifax, the provincial capital of Nova Scotia. Location data from MarineTraffic.com indicates that the vessel is currently moored in Halifax after arriving on February 1, shortly after midnight. 

The Maritime Executive reports that the Halifax Regional Police were on hand to investigate the sailor’s death circumstances. 

However, given the Royal Canadian Mounted Police has taken over the investigation since the death occurred on board a vessel in waters occupied by the Canadian exclusive economic zone.

An inspector with the International Transport Workers Federation is on-call to provide services to the vessel’s crew members. 

Karl Risser, the inspector in question, told CBC that the Guilia I‘s crew is “understandably shaken up” by the incident. 

Maritime Direct will provide updates to the investigation when details become available.