Death at sea: confirming, recording and caring for the body
1The lesson in plain words
A death on board is a medical, legal and human event. Confirm it with the doctor, preserve the evidence, care for the body properly and inform everyone who must know.
Confirming death
Ask the radio doctor to guide your assessment of a possible death. Absent breathing, pulse or pupil reactions alone do not establish irreversible death. If life is uncertain, follow your first-aid training while seeking immediate advice; do not wait several minutes for signs. Cold immersion, overdose and electric shock can make someone appear dead. Hypostasis is purple staining in the lowest parts; rigor mortis is post-death stiffening. Report findings and times accurately. Formal certification follows flag-State requirements.
Records and evidence
Record the date, time and position of death, what happened, the treatment given and all radio medical advice. In an accident, a suspected suicide or any unexplained death, leave the scene as it is if possible, photograph the body as found, keep notes, letters, medicines and equipment, and take signed statements promptly. Enter the death in the official log book. A post-mortem ashore may follow.
Care of the body
Wear gloves and an apron. Unless the death is suspicious, close the eyes and mouth, straighten the limbs, wash and dry the body, and attach an identity label. Wrap it in a sheet, then a leak-proof body bag labelled on the outside. In a suspicious death, change as little as possible and follow the advice of the company and the authorities.
Storage
Keep the body refrigerated at about 4 °C in a dedicated cold space, never below 2 °C and never frozen: freezing damages tissue and can ruin a later examination. Refrigeration is suitable for up to about two months; for longer, the company and protection and indemnity (P&I) insurer advise. Where possible keep the body for examination and burial ashore. Burial at sea is a last resort, only as the flag State and company allow.
Reporting and belongings
Inform the company, which normally contacts the next of kin, the flag State as required, the P&I insurer and, through the agent, the next port authorities and consul. Declare non-accidental deaths on the Maritime Declaration of Health; report all deaths through the required channels. Inventory belongings with a witness, seal and store them, and obtain a receipt at handover. A death affects everyone: offer the crew support and the company’s welfare help.
2Key data
- Confirmation
- Radio doctor guides assessment; certification follows flag rules
- Caution
- Cold, overdose or electric shock: may look dead
- Evidence
- Photos as found, notes, statements, records of advice
- Storage
- About 4 °C, never below 2 °C, never frozen
- Refrigerated storage
- Up to about two months; longer: company and P&I advice
- Belongings
- Inventory with a witness, seal, hand over against receipt
3Key points
- 1
Ask the radio doctor to guide assessment; certification follows flag rules. Cold, overdose and electric shock can mislead.
- 2
In an unexplained death, preserve the scene, take photographs and keep the evidence.
- 3
Store the body at about 4 °C, refrigerated, never frozen.
- 4
Inform the required authorities and company; declare non-accidental deaths on the MDH.
- 5
List belongings with a witness and hand them over against a receipt.
4Frequent mistakes
Wrong: Freeze the body to keep it best.
Right: Freezing damages tissue and hampers the post-mortem. Refrigerate at about 4 °C.
Wrong: Tidy the cabin before the authorities arrive.
Right: In an unexplained death, leave it as found, photograph it and lock it.
Wrong: Bury the body at sea to spare the crew distress.
Right: Keep it for examination and burial ashore where possible; burial at sea only as the flag State and company allow.
5Practice case & exam keys
Mid-ocean, 9 days from port, a crew member is found unresponsive in his cabin in the morning. There is no sign of violence; an empty medicine packet lies on the floor. What do you do?
Show the answer
Follow your first-aid training and contact the radio doctor immediately. Do not assume an overdose is fatal. If death is established, preserve the scene, photographs, statements and records. Log findings, times, position, treatment and advice. Notify the company and required authorities. Follow their instructions on evidence and handling the body; refrigerate at about 4 °C, never frozen, for examination ashore. Formal certification follows flag-State requirements.
Exam keys
- Radio doctor guides assessment; absent breathing, pulse or pupil reactions alone are insufficient. Certification follows flag rules.
- Unexplained death: preserve the scene, photograph, keep evidence, take statements, log.
- Body: refrigerated at about 4 °C, never frozen; up to about two months.
- Inform company, flag State, P&I, next port, consul; belongings listed with a witness.
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