Disaster strikes T’di Port – 2 Chinese, Ghanaian dead

The Police and the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) are conducting a joint investigation into circumstances leading to the deaths of three sailors onboard a China Harbour Engineering Corporation operated dredger boat at the Takoradi Port.

The deceased sailors, two Chinese, Chief Engineer Xu Zhen Hai, Deckhand Chen Wen Lin and Ghanaian Deckhand Sanniche Arkhurst Quaicoo were presumed dead in a ballast tank onboard the dredger board Dong Sheng 1008, then positioned at the buoys of the nation’s premier port.

Information available to The Chronicle from Takoradi reveals that the dredger boat on Thursday January 30, 2025 sailed from Tema to Takoradi to undertake repair works.

The following day, Friday January 31, 2025 the Master of the vessel, Captain Zhou Lin informed the crew onboard that the dredger was listing, a possibility of water ingress into the craft.

The Captain reportedly instructed the opening of ballast tank one and when complied with by the Chief Engineer, it was found to contain rust and lacked oxygen.

The paper’s sources at both GPHA and Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) intimated that when such a situation arises, ideally, safety precautions are adhered to by allowing 48 hours, to investigate the cause of the listing.

There is also the issue of checking atmospheric condition and gases present, which are physically conducted.

However, this precaution was thrown to the wind and although visibility was poor, the Chief Engineer entered the tank in the absence of the Captain, who reportedly went to fetch portable lamps.

The Master of the craft allegedly returned only to find the Engineer and another unconscious in the tank.

The source continued that Captain Zhou Lin was reported to have stated that he instructed a third sailor to standby as he struggled to reach out for a rope to facilitate their rescue from the tank.

Upon his return, the third sailor was equally found in the same ballast tank and all three mariners in a state of unconsciousness.

The incident was said to have occurred at about 19:00hours.

He then reached out to the GPHA Fire Brigade and the Security who rushed onboard the craft to assist.

The three sailors were evacuated to the GPHA Hospital only to be confirmed dead by the medical authorities there.

A report was subsequently made to the Police who, together with the Ports Authority, commenced investigation to ascertain the cause of the disaster on the boat.

Their bodies were conveyed to the Police Hospital in Accra for autopsy.

The sources went on that after the post-mortem, the remains of sailor Sanniche Quaicoo was returned to Takoradi for preservation, while those of the two Chinese nationals remained in Accra.

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