Sydney: The inquest in Sydney over three mysterious deaths onboard the Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK)-controlled Sage Sagittarius has revealed some more salacious details. The investigation at a coroner’s court into the 105,708 dwt coal carrier has gripped Australian media with the vessel being dubbed the ‘death ship’.
Within the space of six weeks three men died on the ship in mysterious circumstances, outlined in earlier Splash reports. The inquest has heard claims of the ship’s captain’s gun-dealing, abuse and misuse of his position.
It now emerges that the widow of one of the dead men, engineer Hector Collado, was offered A$48,100 ($37,493) in compensation by NYK if she vowed not to pursue legal action. She has, however, hired legal help with a civil suit in mind.
NYK had told Mrs Collado that her husband had died of a heart attack while the ship was moored at the Port of Newcastle, she says. However, it has emerged he fell to his death, and prior to the fall was dripping blood from a likely attack from someone onboard.
