Indian first officer dies from respiratory problems off Uruguay
An Indian first officer has died aboard a Norwegian bulker after reporting respiratory problems off Uruguay.
The 55,800-dwt open-hatch Saga Welco-owned Saga Faith was diverted into Montevideo after one of its officers reported respiratory problems. A medical team boarded the ship, but could not save the 38-year-old Indian first officer.
Covid-19 has not been confirmed but concerns are mounting around the world as the Indian sub-continent suffers a devastating outbreak of a highly infectious Coronavirus variant.
The Saga Faith was en route from Brazil, a country with its own virulent strain of Coronavirus. The National Navy of Uruguay reported that a vessel would go alongside the ship to bring the body ashore and local authorities will conduct a post-mortem to determine the cause of death.
