French Authorities Probe Death Of Sailor Aboard CFTO Seiner

French authorities are investigating the death of an African sailor after an accident aboard the French-flagged ‘Gueriden’, a purse seiner operated by the French tuna company Compagnie Française du Thon Océanique (CFTO), while fishing in the Gulf of Guinea.

On September 13, the deceased reportedly fell into the refrigeration tank during the fishing operation. Though he was immediately rescued, he died of a sudden illness soon after, said the vessel owner, according to news site Le Télégramme. The French marine accident investigation office (BEAmer) announced on its website that it has already begun investigating the accident. The 82-meter ‘Gueriden’ is one of the four CFTO vessels operating in the Gulf of Guinea, with the remainder of the fleet fishing in the Indian Ocean.