Sri Lanka Navy Evacuates Injured Seafarer from Cargo Ship off Galle
The Sri Lanka Navy has evacuated a seriously injured seafarer from the Marshall Islands-flagged cargo ship MV Spirit of Tokyo off Galle, on the southern coast of Sri Lanka, on Sunday, 1 November. Galle lies close to one of the busiest east–west shipping lanes in the Indian Ocean, used by ships sailing between the Suez Canal and the Strait of Malacca.
The crew member suffered a serious head injury in an accident on board in the early hours of the morning. The ship contacted the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Colombo and asked for urgent help to land the patient.
The Navy first gave the ship medical advice by radio and then arranged for the vessel to come closer to Galle Harbour. Fast Attack Craft P 451 of the Southern Naval Command met the ship and transferred the injured seafarer ashore. With help from the ship’s local agent, he was then taken to a private hospital in Galle for treatment.
The Navy has not released the seafarer’s name or nationality, or said how the accident happened. It said it “remains prepared to respond to maritime emergencies” in Sri Lanka’s search and rescue region and nearby waters.
The case shows how quickly a medical evacuation can be arranged when a ship contacts the nearest MRCC early and follows its advice. Head injuries on board often come from falls, slips on wet decks or being struck by moving equipment, so the right protective gear, safe access and a careful risk assessment before work remain important. Masters and officers on ships passing south of Sri Lanka can rely on MRCC Colombo as the first point of contact in an emergency.
