The Sri Lanka Navy took a badly injured seafarer off a foreign cargo ship early on Sunday, 1 November 2026. The ship was off Galle, on the south coast of Sri Lanka. The seafarer is now in hospital, the navy said in a statement on its website. The Daily Mirror also reported the transfer.
The ship is Spirit of Tokyo (IMO 9761231), which sails under the flag of the Marshall Islands. The navy says the crew member was critically injured, with a severe head injury, in an accident on board. It does not say how the accident happened. It also does not give the seafarer's name or nationality.
How the transfer worked
The ship was sailing inside Sri Lanka's search and rescue region. This is the sea area where Sri Lanka leads rescue work. The ship asked for urgent help through MRCC Colombo. MRCC means Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre.
First, the navy gave the crew medical advice by radio. It then told the ship to sail towards the port of Galle. The navy fast attack craft P 451 of the Southern Naval Command, a small and fast patrol boat, met the ship off Galle Harbour. Navy sailors moved the injured seafarer onto the patrol boat and took the seafarer ashore.
The seafarer was then taken to a private hospital in Galle for more treatment. The ship's local agent helped with this. The navy said it stays ready to help ships and fishing boats in trouble in Sri Lanka's rescue region.
What crews can do after a serious injury on board
A head injury can get worse in the hours after an accident, even if the person seems fine at first. Fast action and good contact with shore help the injured person most.
Ask for medical advice early. Contact the nearest MRCC or your company's medical advice service by radio, phone or email. Do not wait to see if the person gets better.
Give clear facts: what happened, the time, how awake the person is, any bleeding or vomiting, pulse and breathing. Report changes at once.
Do not move a person with a head or neck injury more than needed. Keep them warm and watch their breathing all the time.
Follow the course the rescue centre gives you. The ship may need to change course to meet a rescue boat or helicopter.
Prepare the transfer early. Rig the pilot ladder or other safe access. Put the person's passport, seaman's book and medical notes in a waterproof bag.
Write down all first aid given and all advice received. The hospital and the company will need this.
Cover photo: Sri Lanka Navy fast attack craft at sea off Colombo during Independence Day events, 4 February 2019. The photo is illustrative and does not show the boat used in this transfer. Photo: Rehman Abubakr, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sources: Sri Lanka Navy, 1 Nov 2026: Navy responds to medical emergency of foreign vessel crew member, Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka), 1 Nov 2026: Navy evacuates injured crew member from foreign cargo ship off Galle.
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