Three crew members died, while a number of others were hospitalized in a gas poisoning incident aboard the Iranian general cargo ship Nazmehr.
According to the Azerbaijani coast guard, the vessel requested immediate assistance in the evening hours of October 18, while it was some 21 miles off the Pirallahi Island, Azerbaijan, in the central part of the Caspian Sea.
Relevant authorities dispatched rescue units to assist the ship’s 12 crewmembers, consisting of one Ukrainian national and 11 Iranians.
Three sailors lost their lives in the incident, while four others received urgent medical aid once they were taken to port. A few hours later, the captain of the vessel requested assistance and evacuation of another four crew members who exhibited deterioration in their health conditions. The captain refused to be evacuated and was provided medical treatment on board.
The sailors were allegedly poisoned by a chemical used to preserve a cargo of wheat aboard Nazmehr, a spokesperson for Azerbaijan’s Health Ministry informed citing the preliminary diagnosis.
World Maritime News Staff