A Filipino seafarer has died two days after he was stabbed in the chest by a compatriot crewman, after a drunken brawl.
The incident took place in a container ship docked in Taiwan’s Kaohsiung port. According to local police, following a drinking session, the two Filipino crewmen began fighting around 6 am local time on 18 January, while the ship was anchored at Kaohsiung’s berth 77, in Terminal 5.
While the police released a photo of the ship with the vessel name pixellated, S&P Global’s vessel-tracking data shows that Formosa Container No. 4, a 2007-built 920 TEU vessel owned by Formosa Plastics Marine Corp. was anchored at the Taiwanese berth at that time.
One of the crewmen, identified as Fajardo, 40, brandished two kitchen knives and allegedly attacked the other seafarer, whose name was given as Agustin, 33. As blood splattered at the scene, other seafarers called the police, and Agustin was rushed to Kaohsiung Municipal Siaogang Hospital.
However, Agustin succumbed to his injuries on 20 January. Fajardo and the knives have been detained by the police and the matter is being investigated by Kaohsiung District Prosecutor’s Office.
Formosa Container No. 4 departed Kaohsiung for Guangzhou on 20 January and is now on its way to Keelung, Taiwan.
Alison Koo
Asia Correspondent
