The chief officer and the chief engineer collapsed in a cargo hold of the 13,400-dwt Sally Ann C (built 2007) on 13 March.

The ship’s second officer is said to have tried to help his two colleagues, but lost consciousness and had to be revived.

The Isle of Man-flagged vessel was off the coast of Senegal bound for Dakar carrying a cargo of timber when the incident occurred.

Carisbrooke