The detectives from the La Serena Homicide Brigade of the Investigative Police (PDI) went to the Coquimbo Maritime Government to carry out the first procedures regarding the death of a Dutch crew member of a factory ship. The discovery of the body took place in international waters.
In this regard, Subprefect José Cáceres, head of the La Serena Homicide Brigade, reported that “by order of the Public Ministry, PDI personnel -in this case, the Homicide Brigade- along with experts from the regional Criminalistics Laboratory are moving to a scene site at the Coquimbo Port Captaincy due to the death of a 22-year-old crew member, of Dutch nationality, who allegedly died yesterday (Thursday, October 30) during the night in international waters.”
“By order of the Public Ministry, we are developing the corresponding investigation with work at the scene on the examination of the corpse in order to establish whether or not it presents injuries attributable to third parties. The background information will be delivered in a timely manner to the prosecutor in charge of the case,” he added.
For its part, the Coquimbo Port Captaincy communicated that “a procedure was coordinated following the report of the death of a crew member on board the Lithuanian-flagged factory ship F/V Margiris. The event occurred while the vessel was carrying out fishing operations on the high seas, outside national jurisdiction, with the Chilean Maritime Authority being informed, who established the corresponding administrative processes to address the incident.”
“In order to carry out the disembarkation of the body and the pertinent medico-legal procedures, the ship was authorized to call at the Port of Coquimbo at 21:30 hours on October 30, by virtue of the provisions of Supreme Decree No. 123, which regulates the use of Chilean ports for foreign fishing vessels operating in adjacent high seas areas,” it added.
In line with the details provided by the Maritime Authority, the procedure was carried out with the coordination of different public services, including the Legal Medical Service, PDI, Regional Ministerial Secretariat of Health, Customs, and the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service (Sernapesca). This was with the purpose of carrying out the necessary procedures to guarantee compliance with Chilean regulations and the corresponding sanitary measures.
“Once the disembarkation of the deceased crew member has been carried out, who will be made available to the Legal Medical Service for identification and subsequent repatriation, the vessel will continue its navigation to the fishing zone in international waters, as authorized,” detailed the Coquimbo Port Captaincy.
According to the monitoring carried out by MarineTraffic of the Margiris’s route, the factory ship remained at anchor in Coquimbo bay for more than seven hours, leaving the area around 8:00 am. It is currently sailing in a northerly direction.
