THE crew of the Taisei Maru lined the deck here yesterday as a mark of respect for their five colleagues who died on Friday when freon gas escaped in the refrigeration unit of the giant Japanese vessel.
Lieut Cmmdr Liam Donaldson of the LE Aisling said yesterday that from what he had gleaned, the chief engineer on the Japanese vessel heard gas spontaneously venting from the refrigeration unit and was overcome when he went to investigate.
His four colleagues suffered the same fate when they went to his aid. The five bodies were found at the bottom of the first ladder leading to the engine room area.
The Taisei Maru, with Irish naval personnel on board, steamed slowly into Haulbowline Naval Base in Cork at 3.20 p.m. where a naval party had gathered on the quayside to receive the remains.
When the vessel came alongside, a green tarpaulin cover could be seen on deck. Under it were the bodies of the five crewmen who lost their lives.
The naval authorities, under Capt Peadar McIlhenny, Acting Flag Officer Commanding the Naval Service, took pains to liaise with the Japanese Ambassador to Ireland, Mr Takanori Kazuhara, as to what would be appropriate at the quayside.
They decided that before the bodies were removed to the Cork University Hospital for a post mortem examination, there should be a minute's silence.
The thronged quayside was then hushed as people stood to attention, heads bowed. The ambassador and Capt McIlhenny then went on board where they were greeted by the acting master of the vessel, Mr Teruyuki Nematsu (20), who has not yet received his full qualifications.
When the tarpaulin cover was removed, five red body bags were revealed. On each, a pink carnation was placed in recognition of the symbolism which the flower holds for the Japanese people. The flowers were presented by the Naval Service.
Mr Kazuhara spoke for several minutes with the acting master to express his sympathy. Capt McIlhenny also expressed his sympathy through an interpreter.
Afterwards, the ambassador said he wished to praise the Irish Naval Service for its role in ensuring that the vessel was brought back safely with the remaining 16 crew, and added that an investigation would be carried out in Japan as to the circumstances of the tragedy.
The bodies were then ceremoniously piped off the vessel, one by one, and brought to five waiting funeral hearses after which they were given a Garda escort to the hospital mortuary.
When the poignant ceremony was over, the Cork University Hospital Accident and Emergency Consultant, Mr Tony Harrington, went on board to examine the other crew members.
He said later that they showed some signs of vomiting and nausea, but the symptoms were passing and the men appeared to be out of danger.
However, they will undergo a full examination at the hospital today, as will the naval personnel from the LE Aisling who helped to bring the vessel back to Cork from the scene of the accident, some 240 miles off the west coast.
The vessel will remain in Cork for a few days before sailing to Las Palmas in the Canary Islands for repairs. While the remains of some of the dead crewmen are expected to be flown back to Japan, it is understood that arrangements are being made to have others cremated in Dublin.
They were: Mr Koji Sato (48) the master of the vessel; Mr Toshiyki Kikuta (56), the chief engineer; Mr Masayasu Nagamine (52), the cook; Mr Hiroshi Abe (57) the bosun; and Mr Kiyoshi Yoshikiyo (44), an oiler.