IOR/R/15/2/1370

The file comprises correspondence and other papers relating to incidents of sickness, injury and death on board ships, subsequently reported to the Political Agency upon the arrival of the vessel concerned at Bahrain. The file’s principal correspondents include shipping agents and operators based in Bahrain, including: the British India Steam Navigation Company; Gray, Mackenzie & Company Limited, Bahrain (chiefly John L Leared); Yusuf bin Ahmed Kanoo [Yūsuf bin Aḥmad Kānū]; the Bahrain Petroleum Company (BAPCO).

The incidents of death reported include death from sickness, accidents, and suicide, the latter including the master of the vessel MV Athelmonarch. In many cases, the papers include: witness statements from crew members and medical officers; death certificates for the deceased; and lists of the personal effects of the deceased, for transfer to the authorities. In the instances of sickness and injury recorded, correspondence includes: arrangements for transfer of the individual to the Bahrain authorities for medical treatment; certificates for continuous discharge; accounts of wages and effects; arrangements for the individual’s pay and repatriation; forms entitled ‘Account of changes made in the crew of foreign-going or home trade ship at a port out of the United Kingdom, but not before a Consular or Colonial Officer.’

The file also includes:

• correspondence relating to the deposit and return of ships’ articles (including logbooks) with the Political Agency, where the vessels concerned were staying at Bahrain for more than 48 hours;
• correspondence from July 1941 to June 1942 concerning: the expiration of contracts and subsequent discharge of the crew of the oil power barge Caltex II, owned by BAPCO; the recruitment of a new crew from Bahrain; terms of employment for the new crew, including a copy of the ‘Crew Roll and Agreement between Master and Seamen in the Merchant Service of the Republic of Panama’ (between ff 92-132).