Two security guards have been found dead on the Maersk-owned container ship ‘Maersk Alabama’ at Port Victoria in the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean.
The two men, who were both Americans and former members of the Navy Seals, a US Special Forces unit , were found lifeless in their cabin on Tuesday afternoon.
Thomas Rothrauff, the head of Trident Group, the private maritime security firm that employed the two men, said that the cause of their deaths was not known as of yet, but that the Seychelles authorities were investigating.
“It is with great sorrow that Trident Group confirms the death of two security contractors while onboard a merchant vessel that was pier side in the Seychelles,” Rothrauff said in a press release. “There is no immediate indication as to the cause of death, but the deaths were not caused by operational activity.”
READ MORE: Maersk Line loses 200-300 containers in storm
A ship with history
The ship had arrived and docked in Port Victoria on Sunday and was expected to leave on Tuesday before the men were found by a member of the crew. The ship will remain docked until further notice, Kevin N Speers, a senior director of Maersk Line Limited, said.
“Contracted security is part of anti-piracy protection plans to safeguard crews and vessels," Speers said in a Maersk statement. "In Maersk Alabama’s case, she is persistently in high-risk areas since she provides feeder service to the east coast of Africa. The vessel was cleared to complete cargo operations, and she is now at anchor awaiting further instructions.”
It’s not the first time that the ‘Maersk Alabama’ has hit the news. In 2009, it was hijacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia. The crew were held hostage before they turned the tables on the pirates, led by the ship’s captain, Richard Phillips. Last year, the event was made into a blockbuster film starring Tom Hanks called ‘Captain Phillips’.
The news completes an eventful week for the Danish shipping giant as it also lost hundreds of containers in a storm in the Bay of Biscay.
