A 24-year-old Azerbaijani man died on Sunday, December 7, on a Panamanian-flagged ship anchored in the Port of Durres, after allegedly coming into contact with electricity while working as a sailor. The young man was immediately transported to Durres Hospital, but died on the way to the emergency room.
After investigating the case, the police arrested the captain and engineer of the ship, citizens with the initials AZ, resident in Azerbaijan, and DL, resident in Georgia. "They are accused of the criminal offense 'Violation of safety rules at work', as they are suspected of not having respected safety standards during operations on board," the Durrës Police said in a statement.
The incident has brought the spotlight back on workplace safety measures in the maritime sector, where incidents often occur due to a lack of technical standards and personnel training. The investigation team is working with port authorities to verify how work on board is managed and safety regulations are being observed.
The latest case follows several other tragic incidents at the Port of Durres in recent years, where workers have lost their lives at work. In April 2022, a 19-year-old was struck to death by a crane during loading and unloading operations, while in September 2024 a 22-year-old sailor lost his life in similar circumstances, rekindling concerns about the lack of safety standards in the maritime sector. /BIRN/
