AN INFAMOUS vessel Australian media dubbed the “death ship” has been sold for demolition in Bangladesh more than a decade after the controversies.
Splash 24/7 reported Japanese bulk carrier Sage Sagittarius has sold for scrap at US$430 per light displacement ton.
Built in 2001, Sage Sagittarius, owned by NYK subsidiary Hachiuma Steamship under the Panama flag, was front and centre of a series of inquests in Sydney’s Glebe Court that date back to 2015.
In 2012, three seafarers died under mysterious circumstances while they worked aboard the ship.
At the time the 105,708 DWT Sage Sagittarius was mostly engaged in the export coal trade from Australia to Japan and has remained on that run, last leaving Newcastle just over a week ago [9 December] for Kudamatsu, where it is due 23 December.
The vessel’s head chef Cesar Llanto, 42, died in August 2012.
He reportedly died after either being thrown overboard or killed on the ship by an unknown person or persons, and his body later disposed of, the New South Wales deputy state coroner ruled back in 2017.
Media outlets reported at the time Mr Llanto disappeared off the coast of Cairns and his body had never been found.
Chief engineer Hector Collado, 55, died a fortnight later on 14 September 2012.
He sustained multiple injuries after being struck over the head with a weapon by an unknown person or persons as the ship entered Newcastle, the coroner said at the time.
It was reported Mr Collado was then either thrown over the handrail outside the ship’s storeroom on the second deck or fell over the handrail to his death.
A third man, Kosaku Monji, 37, was crushed to death on a conveyor belt when the vessel was docked at the Japanese port of Kudamatsu on 6 October in the same year.
The ship’s captain, Venancio Salas, was accused of gun running, harassment, and attempts to cover up incriminating evidence.
It was alleged the chef planned to report Capt Salas to the International Transport Worker’s Federation in Australia over his bullying attitude.
During the inquest in 2015, Mr Salas admitted to punching crewmembers, big drinking sessions onboard and taking a commission for selling guns to crewmembers.