The family of a seafarer who died on board a bulk carrier while on port call in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) asked for a deeper investigation.

[A Filipino migrant worker] ... died on Oct. 9 after he collapsed while on board the Star Gwyneth bulk carrier...

“We sent a representative to the UAE because the company said we are not allowed to make a followup. It turned out later that there is no prohibition for us to make a followup on Coleto’s death,” [brother-in-law Bon] Salinas said in an interview Monday.

A family representative was told that the case has been closed and that the cause of death was cardiac arrest, he said... In an Oct. 9 statement issued by the family and obtained Monday, it was alleged that Coleto was ordered by his employer to perform exhaustive cleaning and sweeping under scorching heat, as attested to by his co-workers.

“Coleto, who has been working in the carrier for nearly 10 years, worked for an extended 38 hours with only a two-hour break,” the statement said.

Coleto's staffing agency, StarOcean Manning Inc., informed them of his death but “expressed deep concern and dissatisfaction with the agency’s alleged lack of transparency regarding the specific circumstances of Albert’s death.”...

The family said they intend to file a case against his manning agency and other involved entities for the apparent negligence and disregard for the safety and health of crew members.