The Colombian Maritime Authority issued the following statement (translated into English).

In reference to the death of the captain of the “Spirit of Hamburg” cargo ship, Myo Tun Zaw, a national of Burma (Myanmar), in circumstances that are the subject of investigation, the Maritime Directorate General is allowed to clarify that:

1. The Spirit of Hamburg, container ship, flagged to the Isle of Man of the Maersk shipping line, arrived at the port of Cartagena on April 16, 2020 at 7:40 a.m. with 21 crew members onboard, in order to load and unload containers at the port facilities of the Cartagena Regional Port Authority.
2. At approximately 5:00 p.m. on the same day, when the cargo ship was still docked at the port, a report was received from the Protection Officer of the Cartagena Regional Port Authority, reporting the death of the captain, who was found on the main deck of the ship.
3. The specific circumstances of time, mode and place are the subject of investigation by the Colombian judicial authorities.
4. The General Maritime Directorate through the Port Authority of Cartagena opened the corresponding administrative investigation, in application of Decree Law 2324 of 1984 and Decree 730 of 2004 “ By which Chapter XI-2 of the International Agreement is partially regulated for the Safety of Human Life in the Sea of ​​1974-SOLAS-approved by 8^th Law of 1980,” compiled in the Unique Decree of the Defense Sector 1070 of 2015, regarding the verification and compliance with the ship protection plan and the port facility, actions carried out by virtue of its powers as authority of the coastal state.
5. The Colombian Maritime Authority will continue to make available its competence within the investigations that are currently being carried out by different judicial and administrative authorities that have jurisdiction over the events that have occurred, especially by the Office of the Attorney General of the Nation, enforcing the powers of Colombia. as a coastal State so that justice is effectively exercised in our country, in accordance with the national legal order and International Public Law.
6. The General Maritime Directorate has maintained constant communication with the representatives of the shipping company in the port of Cartagena and has issued the corresponding notifications addressed to the flag state of the ship.

Images courtesy Hamburg Sud Line

A statement put out by Zeaborn Ship Management stating that a seafarer suffered fatal injuries after an incident with an intruder, though news reports state that the ship captain was slaughtered in a mutiny by his own crew.

Zeaborg statements that the crime was committed by an intruder conflict with other press & social media reports that consistently claim the crime was committed by the ship’s own crew.

According to Colombian daily El Tiempo, Mynanmar national Myo Tun Zaw, the ship’s master was killed by his crew onboard the Spirit of Hamburg. Though social media reports initially claimed the crew was Philippine, though other reports, such as the Maritime Bulletin indicate that the crew was also from Myanmar, save for 2 Ethiopians.

“Managers Zeaborn Ship Management regret to advise that in the afternoon of 16 April 2020 one of its valued seafarers of its managed container vessel Spirit of Hamburg has suffered fatal injuries following what is believed to be a violent incident with an intruder onboard the ship in the port of Cartagena, Colombia,” said Zeaborn in a statement.

According to UN convention, the laws of Colombia might not apply to the crime since it occurred onboard a foreign vessel. The Spirit of Hamburg is British flagged but German owned and managed.

“Immediately after the incident all relevant authorities and parties have been notified. Representatives of the company have arrived in Cartagena for further support to the crew. The exact circumstances of the violent incident are yet unknown, and police have started an official investigation into the events and conducted interviews with the crew of Spirit of Hamburg. In order to not interfere with the investigation of the local police Zeaborn Shipmanagement will refrain from making any further statements at this stage,” added Zeaborn.

“Authorities in Columbia have meanwhile granted permission for the vessel to move from berth to inner anchorage.”

Photo Credit Ed Dunens