rjcoles
Well-Known Member
What do you do if one of the crew dies whilst you are on a long passage? Do you bury them at sea or do you keep the body on board to be handed over to the authorities?
Death on board?
- Thread starter rjcoles
- Start date
Shiver Metimbers
Well-Known Member
There was a death on a cruise I was on recently and the body was put ashore at the first port of call. I would think hoying it over board would be getting rid of some vital evidence that you have not committed murder? Then again, one would have to consider the health of the remaining crew and the body starting to decompose.
PuffTheMagicDragon
Well-Known Member
You could always keep it in a barrel of brandy, if you wish to follow tradition! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Seriously, though, surely it depends on where you are. If close enough to land, say 24 hours sailing, you would call the nearest 'friendly' land and ask for instructions / assistance. If you are in mid-Atlantic there is not much that you can do. A detailed entry in the log, preferably witnessed by the rest of the crew, describing in utmost detail all the circumstances would be a must when presenting your crew list - missing one member - at your next port of call. Also, I would expect to be prepared for endless formalities.
No personal experience, thankfully, but it would be interesting to hear from others who might have had. I admit that I have never given it any thought, mainly because I sail single-handed.
Seriously, though, surely it depends on where you are. If close enough to land, say 24 hours sailing, you would call the nearest 'friendly' land and ask for instructions / assistance. If you are in mid-Atlantic there is not much that you can do. A detailed entry in the log, preferably witnessed by the rest of the crew, describing in utmost detail all the circumstances would be a must when presenting your crew list - missing one member - at your next port of call. Also, I would expect to be prepared for endless formalities.
No personal experience, thankfully, but it would be interesting to hear from others who might have had. I admit that I have never given it any thought, mainly because I sail single-handed.
Twister_Ken
Well-Known Member
The question came up in my first aid course., The doc recommended a bodybag be carried on longer cruises. Apparently coroners, etc, can get a bit miffed if they don't have a body to pore over, and often express their miffedosity by chucking you in the slammer.
seamaster30
Well-Known Member
I believe the best solution is to put the body in your tender (covered) on the longest (practical) rope you can and tow it with.
PuffTheMagicDragon
Well-Known Member
Yes, some years ago there was a rumour that the Brains-in-Brussels were considering to make carrying body bags on board a requirement. How true that was, or to what degree, I have no idea.
However, it begs the question: how long can a body be kept in a bag without it becoming a health hazard - especially in tropical temperatures?
However, it begs the question: how long can a body be kept in a bag without it becoming a health hazard - especially in tropical temperatures?
Adaero
Well-Known Member
On my recent trip from Cape Town to Tenerife we hired a professional delivery skipper who had years of serious offshore experience.
During his briefing this was one of the questions he asked. My answer was that we should take them to the next port of call and he totally disagreed. His reasoning for this was two fold: -
1. Bodies start to decompose badly after 24 hours (especially in the tropics). One of our other crew members was a retired fire fighter who has seen more than his fair share of dead bodies in the past, he went into much greater detail which I won't go into now in case you are eating!
2. The chances of a small island or even another country letting you land with a dead body is very slim. Our first stop was St Helena and the skipper quoted another vessel that tried to land there with a body and was refused entry.
Whatever decision you decide to take you still end up with a shed load of explaining and paperwork. Probably the worst bit would be trying to explain to the relatives what happened!
During his briefing this was one of the questions he asked. My answer was that we should take them to the next port of call and he totally disagreed. His reasoning for this was two fold: -
1. Bodies start to decompose badly after 24 hours (especially in the tropics). One of our other crew members was a retired fire fighter who has seen more than his fair share of dead bodies in the past, he went into much greater detail which I won't go into now in case you are eating!
2. The chances of a small island or even another country letting you land with a dead body is very slim. Our first stop was St Helena and the skipper quoted another vessel that tried to land there with a body and was refused entry.
Whatever decision you decide to take you still end up with a shed load of explaining and paperwork. Probably the worst bit would be trying to explain to the relatives what happened!
Poignard
Well-Known Member
When I was an engineer on one of Fred Olsen's cruise liners, we had a small morgue on board. Death was not an uncommon occurence with elderly people over-indulging themselves on food, drink, crewmembers and whatever else they could get.
On cargo boats any dead crewmember would be kept in the freezer until the next port.
As others have said, not having a body to show is going to lead to many complications, especially when there is only one survivor.
Who's to say that there hasn't been murder or some life insurance fiddle?
As regards keeping it, to put it bluntly, a human corpse is a very large piece of decomposing meat. How long is that going to last, especially in the tropics? I have seen a drowned man and I wouldn't care to spend much time with another.
If I found myself in this situation I suppose I would write down an account of the circumstances, take photos and radio for assistance from other vessels. If I was very lucky, there might be a ship nearby with a doctor [or at least a deep freeze]. A witness from another yacht might be helpful. After that the body would have to be put in the sea and the passage resumed.
After that I would try and head for a port in a developed country where I could hope to find a sympathetic consul and a good legal advisor.
It's easy to say all this sitting here at a desk but it would be probably not be so easy to think clearly "out there"!
Best thing is to take care of your crew or sail alone!
On cargo boats any dead crewmember would be kept in the freezer until the next port.
As others have said, not having a body to show is going to lead to many complications, especially when there is only one survivor.
Who's to say that there hasn't been murder or some life insurance fiddle?
As regards keeping it, to put it bluntly, a human corpse is a very large piece of decomposing meat. How long is that going to last, especially in the tropics? I have seen a drowned man and I wouldn't care to spend much time with another.
If I found myself in this situation I suppose I would write down an account of the circumstances, take photos and radio for assistance from other vessels. If I was very lucky, there might be a ship nearby with a doctor [or at least a deep freeze]. A witness from another yacht might be helpful. After that the body would have to be put in the sea and the passage resumed.
After that I would try and head for a port in a developed country where I could hope to find a sympathetic consul and a good legal advisor.
It's easy to say all this sitting here at a desk but it would be probably not be so easy to think clearly "out there"!
Best thing is to take care of your crew or sail alone!
johnalison
Well-Known Member
It sounds a bit gruesome, but I think one should take photos of the body and of anything related to the circumstances of the death, before disposal.
Twister_Ken
Well-Known Member
The doc did say that a proper body bag contains all the decay and corruption. He suggested lashing the body to the foredeck!
BlueSkyNick
Well-Known Member
I was thinking about photos too, and even a video, if the poor chap was to be buried at sea.
For example, if he died due to a serious bang on the head, a couple of shots of the injury to show coronors etc.
A visual record of the 'ceremony' would show how, when and where it was carried out, as proof that it actually did, and for the records.
If no body bag is readily available, a spare sail such as storm jib, could be used with some very secure lashings. If I was despatching them at sea, I would have a spare anchor well and truly attached as well.
A horrible thought, whatever one chooses to do, but as the saying goes - Stuff happens.
For example, if he died due to a serious bang on the head, a couple of shots of the injury to show coronors etc.
A visual record of the 'ceremony' would show how, when and where it was carried out, as proof that it actually did, and for the records.
If no body bag is readily available, a spare sail such as storm jib, could be used with some very secure lashings. If I was despatching them at sea, I would have a spare anchor well and truly attached as well.
A horrible thought, whatever one chooses to do, but as the saying goes - Stuff happens.
westernman
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Yes, some years ago there was a rumour that the Brains-in-Brussels were considering to make carrying body bags on board a requirement. How true that was, or to what degree, I have no idea.
However, it begs the question: how long can a body be kept in a bag without it becoming a health hazard - especially in tropical temperatures?
[/ QUOTE ]
Under the MCA code of practice for category 0, it used to be a requirement to have a body bag for each crew member.
I don't know how the last crew member was supposed to get into his. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
Yes, some years ago there was a rumour that the Brains-in-Brussels were considering to make carrying body bags on board a requirement. How true that was, or to what degree, I have no idea.
However, it begs the question: how long can a body be kept in a bag without it becoming a health hazard - especially in tropical temperatures?
[/ QUOTE ]
Under the MCA code of practice for category 0, it used to be a requirement to have a body bag for each crew member.
I don't know how the last crew member was supposed to get into his. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
ChrisE
Well-Known Member
The short answer is put out an all ships pan pan.
A sailing aquaintance had the [--word removed--] luck to have his wife die whislt on passage (she was an asmatic and had a massive, fatal, attack). He was about 300 miles off the US coast at the time. A nearby big ship called the US coastguard who came out and accompanied him back to the shore. Apparently, in cases like this it is not unknown for the survivor of a spouse death to chuck themselves overboard overwhelmed by grief.
A sailing aquaintance had the [--word removed--] luck to have his wife die whislt on passage (she was an asmatic and had a massive, fatal, attack). He was about 300 miles off the US coast at the time. A nearby big ship called the US coastguard who came out and accompanied him back to the shore. Apparently, in cases like this it is not unknown for the survivor of a spouse death to chuck themselves overboard overwhelmed by grief.
GazzaUK
Well-Known Member
I would also suggest deleting any questions you may have asked on any forums about what to do with a dead body while on passage! snigger
nimbusgb
Well-Known Member
Carry a body bag but if out of reach of any support turf the body and log a man overboard during the dogwatch? Put out the relative radio and sat phone calls. This of course presuming it was either a sudden death through accident ( or other causes /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif ) If someone ashore knew you had a sick crew member then it could be sticky. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
DannyB
Well-Known Member
How does this problem differ from loosing a crewman overboard and being unable to recover the body ?
Must type faster !
Must type faster !
L
Largslout
Guest
A number of options are available. 1. nail it to the mast. 2. chop it up and place in fridge. 3. eat it. I hope this helps /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif.
BlueSkyNick
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the Toll Alert avatar - a picture of Gordon Brown might be more appropriate - he's an arsehole too.
L
Largslout
Guest
Meaning?
BlueSkyNick
Well-Known Member
Meaning its a bit much talking about cutting up dead bodies and eating them, when others are trying to address what would be a very distressing and difficult problem.
Just a personal view, that's all.
Just a personal view, that's all.
