Trapped crewman 'ran out of air'
12 June 2008 - 11:55
A crewman who died after becoming trapped in the hull of a cruise ship ran out of oxygen, police have said.
Fire crews were called on Wednesday after two Filipino men working in the ballast tank of the Saga Rose, docked in Southampton, got locked inside.
One of the men remained conscious and was pulled to safety but the other man was declared dead at about 1600 BST.
Police said the death was likely down to a "a lack of oxygen". An investigation has been launched.
The Hampshire police spokesman added: "We have been told it is not fumes, it's lack of oxygen, fresh air in the place they were working."
Confused state
Fire crews spent more than an hour battling to save the man, who was in his 40s. His body has been recovered.
The other man, in his 30s, was taken to hospital in a "confused" state but later released, police said.
The pair were trapped in the ballast tank, which is a compartment at the bottom of a ship which holds water to control a ship's buoyancy and stability.
Water is discharged when the ship is heavily laden and then taken on again when travelling with light cargo.
Paul Green, spokesman for Saga, said the cruise ship, which holds 600 passengers, had been due to set off for a cruise at 1600 BST on Wednesday.
The passengers have been onboard overnight and were being informed of events, he added.
It was hoped the ship would set sail on a 14-night cruise to the Baltic stopping at Amsterdam, Kiel, Riga, and St Petersburg, later on Thursday.
Mr Green said there were usually about 300 crew on board the Saga Rose and anyone wanting to go inside the ballast tank would need written permission and a safety officer as it is an out-of-bounds area.
An investigation is being carried out by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch, which has a team of five at the scene.
