Sole Survivor of Gulf Livestock 1 Tragedy to Return to Philippines

by | Sep 4, 2020 | Maritime Law, Wrongful Death

According to the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo, the only surviving crew member of the Gulf Livestock 1 will soon be able to return to the Philippines.  The Chief Officer, Eduardo Sareno, is currently receiving medical treatment in Japan.  The Chief Officer has told investigators that an engine failure on the ship left it broadside to waves and wind generated by Typhoon Maysak.

Tragically, the Gulf Livestock 1 went missing after making a distress call on the morning of September 2, 2020.  The livestock carrier was en route from Napier, New Zealand to Tangshan, China.  The Japanese Coast Guard began search and rescue operations, although tragically only one survivor has been found.

The crew of 43 was comprised of 39 seamen from the Philippines, 2 from New Zealand, 1 from Australia and 1 from Singapore.  The Filipino maritime workers were placed on the vessel by staffing company Korpil Ship Management and Manning Corp.

It can be dangerous to work in any profession when safety considerations related to dangerous weather conditions are not made.  This is especially so when working on a vessel. Safe cargo companies must ensure that their ships do not put the lives of their crew members at risk.  The risks of catastrophic death as a result of sailing into dangerous weather conditions such as a hurricane or typhoon must always be taken into account by safe maritime and cargo companies.  When employers fail to account for dangerous weather conditions, catastrophic incidents can result. It is unknown if the Master of the vessel simply disregarded the typhoon, or miscalculated the path of his ship.  The tragic result is that the ship and typhoon converged, and an engine failure left the vessel and its 43 crew members helpless.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to those impacted by this tragedy.

Our attorneys have extensive experience in maritime personal injury and wrongful death litigation and the skills needed to represent the families of loved ones who have lost their lives or those who have been seriously injured as a result of the negligence of another party. Spagnoletti Law Firm has handled maritime lawsuits throughout the country on behalf of injured mariners from all over the world.  Our attorneys have previously represented the family members of foreign seamen who have lost their lives or been seriously injured in numerous accidents all over the world.  Spagnoletti Law Firm has previously represented the family members of Filipino offshore workers who were on the Black Elk Energy offshore oil platform that exploded in 2012.

The experienced maritime attorneys at Spagnoletti Law Firm can help you understand your rights if you or a loved one was a victim of this tragic accident. There are strict and short time limits on making claims related to vessel accidents, so please contact us online or call 713-804-9306 or 877-678-5864 to learn more about your rights.