Working Conditions Aboard the Ap-Astarea

In a heartbreaking turn of events, two Ukrainian crew members aboard the bulk carrier 'AP Astarea' tragically lost their lives while the vessel was docked at Chittagong Anchorage on September 30, 2021. The deceased, identified as Gennadiy Yatsenko, 60, and Kostiantyn Yermak, 31, had only recently arrived from Egypt on September 19. The situation unfolded in the afternoon when Yermak, serving as the fitter for the ship, was discovered unresponsive in his cabin. Yatsenko, holding the position of second engineer, reportedly experienced severe breathing difficulties upon seeing his colleague's lifeless body. In a desperate bid for help, the captain quickly requested a speedboat to transport Yatsenko to Chittagong Medical College Hospital. Sadly, he was pronounced dead upon arrival at the facility. Remarkably, neither Yermak nor Yatsenko exhibited any COVID-19 symptoms, leading to speculation that Yatsenko may have suffered a cardiac arrest triggered by the traumatic sight of Yermak's passing. An autopsy is anticipated to provide clearer insights into the cause of their deaths, scheduled to be conducted on October 2. Following the autopsy, the vessel's international Protection and Indemnity (P&I) club has been tasked with repatriating the bodies to Ukraine. The 'AP Astarea', which had initially docked in Chittagong Anchorage with a cargo of urea from Sokhna, had unloaded 35,000 tons at the location and was set to depart for Mongla to offload an additional 20,000 tons. The maritime community mourns this tragic loss, and investigations are underway to further understand this unfortunate incident.