…As Four Qatari Sailors Released, After One Week in UAE Custody***

Two persons died Sunday night in an accident involving a collapsed gangway of the bulk carrier, SUZAKI which berthed at Santa Marta, Colombia.

The Fleetmon noted that a gangway actually contacted pier constructions, during coal loading, on  May 5.

It could however not be confirmed if the ship was shifting along berth, or it was cargo loading equipment that shift, and caused the accident. 

A Burmese crew and docker nonetheless died, after falling with collapsed gangway.

In the meantime, the United Arab Emirates has released a Qatari naval vessel and four sailors who were on board when Qatari forces detained it last week.

According to a statement from the UAE’s foreign ministry, the Qatari vessel entered UAE territorial waters and was seized last Tuesday. 

The four sailors, according to Maritime Executive held in connection with the incident were First Lieutenant Mohammed Hassem Al Heil and Lance Corporal Saeed Nasser Al Marri, both Qatari nationals, Lance Corporal Mohammed Riyad Al Beltaji, a Palestinian national, and Private Fayez Talkoum, an Indian national.

Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the boat was conducting routine operations in Qatari territorial waters when it suffered an unspecified “technical fault.” It then drifted unintentionally into Emirati waters, where it was seized, the ministry said. 

Qatar said that it has been talking with the UAE through diplomatic channels and through “friendly and sister countries” to ensure that the sailors were safe and unharmed. It confirmed that all four personnel and the boat have safely returned.