Death at sea
Governing: Table A-VI/4-2 'death at sea'; MGN 623 (TMAS); MSN 1905 Amendment 5, Annex 7 (records); SI 2012/1743 (MAIB). Builds on: MFA lesson 1.2.
Stopping resuscitation
RCUK 2025 says continue CPR until professional help takes over or tells you to stop, the casualty shows signs of life, or you are exhausted. At sea, the professional is the TMAS doctor. Unless death is obvious (injuries incompatible with life, or clear signs present for some time), keep going and let the doctor advise when to stop. Record the time and the advice.
Confirming and recording
Confirmation of death is ultimately a medical matter; the SCMG gives guidance on the signs, and the TMAS doctor will talk you through them. Then record, in the official log:
| Record | Detail |
|---|---|
| Identity | Name, role, nationality, date of birth |
| Time | Of collapse or injury, of death or of stopping resuscitation |
| Circumstances | What happened, where, who was present |
| Treatment | Everything given, including medicines and quantities (MSN 1905 Annex 7) |
| Advice | TMAS doctor's name and advice |
| Property | Personal effects listed and secured, with a witness |
Keep your own notes and observation charts; they will be asked for.
Accidents and evidence
If the death results from an accident, it is a marine casualty reportable to the MAIB under the Accident Reporting and Investigation Regulations 2012, and evidence must be preserved: do not clean up, alter equipment or delete data beyond what safety requires. Police and the flag state may also investigate, and in port the local authorities will take jurisdiction. Photograph the scene.
Notifications
- HM Coastguard (or the relevant MRCC) and TMAS;
- the owner or manager, and the DPA;
- the flag state;
- the agent at the next port, who will involve local police, coroner or equivalent, and consular officials for a foreign national;
- next of kin, through the company, not by the crew on social media.
Care of the body
Treat the body with dignity. Straighten limbs, close the eyes, remove any tubes only on advice (they may be evidence), label, wrap and move to cool storage as the SCMG and TMAS advise. On a yacht this is a practical problem worth planning for before it happens: where, and how, and who.
Burial at sea is rare, requires the agreement of next of kin and authorities, and is not a decision for the crew to take at the time.
The crew
Everyone aboard will be affected, especially those who did CPR. Brief them honestly, stand them down where possible, check on them over the following days and weeks, and arrange support. Guests on a charter will need a calm explanation and a plan.
CAUTION — Communications Control outgoing messages and social media until the family has been informed.
TIP — Plan it now Add 'death on board' to the yacht's emergency procedures: who records, who notifies, where the body goes, and who looks after the crew.