Spanish maritime authorities have initiated an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the recent passing of a crew member aboard the 2002-built Napoles ferry operated by Balearia.
The inquiry was prompted by a request from the union, which is also advocating for enhancements in occupational risk prevention policies.
Balearia Shipping Company released a concise statement confirming the unfortunate demise of a 40-year-old crew member on Monday night, February 5th, as the vessel arrived at Algeciras. The company expressed its heartfelt condolences and pledged support to the bereaved family. Internal protocols for risk management and investigation procedures have been activated by Balearia in response to the incident.
According to the company's statement, the crew member was discovered unconscious and unresponsive in the vessel's garage upon arrival at the port of Algeciras. Despite immediate intervention by the ship's captain and subsequent efforts by health professionals, resuscitation attempts were unsuccessful.
Reports indicate that the deceased crew member, whose identity remains undisclosed, was found lodged between two vehicles. Speculation suggests that one of the vehicles might have shifted, resulting in the crew member being trapped. The offloading process at Algeciras was reportedly delayed due to the ensuing investigation.
The Napoles ferry, originally constructed in 2002 and underwent reconstruction in 2018-2019 to facilitate operation with LNG-liquefied natural gas, is Cyprus-flagged. With LOA length 610 ft (186 m) and cargo capacity ~480 vehicles, the ferry serves routes between Tangier and Algeciras, accommodating up to 1600 passengers.
The Workers' Commissions (Comisiones Obreras or CCOO) have consented to the investigation and data collection on behalf of the union, intending to file a formal complaint based on the findings. Media sources have reported this incident as the second fatality in the region in 2024, following 4 workplace fatalities recorded in Algeciras in 2023.
Jose Gavilan, the regional secretary of Occupational Health of CCOO, has labeled the deaths recorded in 2023 as "unacceptable" during a media briefing, emphasizing the alarming toll of 3,500 workplace accidents in the region that year.