News

Kent police have begun investigations into the deaths of two seamen aboard a container ship as it sailed through the English Channel yesterday evening (18 January).

The 300-foot ship which was carrying ferrous metal from Denmark to Portugal, was forced to dock at Dover's Western Docks following the discovery.

The ship’s crew alerted Dover Coastguard at 7.05pm on Friday after the deceased, believed to be either Latvian or Russian, were discovered. The ship arrived in Dover shortly before 10.00pm.

The deaths are believed to have been caused by a chemical leak on board the Latvian-registered Sava Lake, according to emergency crews.

A spokesman for Kent Fire and Rescue said: “A specialist chemical response team were sent to identify any dangerous atmospheres on board.”

Kent Police confirmed that the ship's cargo was non-hazardous, and posed "no risk to the public".

A spokeswoman said the force was conducting a joint investigation on behalf of the coroner with the Marine Accident Investigation Branch.