Two Polish Seamen Die of Food Poisoning off West Africa

Two Polish seafarers died and 13 were hospitalized after suspected food poisoning broke out on board a cargo ship while sailing from Ivory Coast, according to Polish media.

The food poisoning reportedly spread through the 1991-built Nefryt on Friday evening, after the all-Polish crew set sail from Ivory Coast.

Following the outbreak, the Nefryt returned to the Port of San Pedro on Saturday, where the authorities discovered that the ship’s captain and third officer died, while the remaining 13 crew members were airlifted to the local hospital.

The 9,500 dwt Nefryt is owned by Euroafrica Shipping Lines of Poland, which has sent a replacement crew to take over the Malta-flagged vessel. The cause of the suspected food poisoning is still unknown.

World Maritime News Staff