Fierce wind and waves are being blamed for the death of two seafarers who sailed through a mid-Atlantic storm on Thursday.

The Aegean Angel.
The 47-year-old captain and 33-year-old chief mechanic of Arcadia Shipmanagement’s 159,052-dwt Aegean Angel (built 2004) were killed and another crewman was seriously injured when a wave struck the vessel and slammed the trio against the ship's main deck, according to media reports.

An unidentified spokesman for the Greek tanker owner told the Bloomberg news wire that the men were checking for storm damage caused by winds that were the sea-condition equivalent of eight on the Beaufort Scale.

The ship, which was carrying are cargo of fuel from Estonia to Houston, Texas, is en route to Bermuda where the battered crewman will be transported to a local hospital.

“The ship didn’t suffer any damage and is now sailing to the closest port which is in Bermuda to get treatment for the injured officer who is receiving medical attention on board while the company is in contact with the US Coast Guard,” the spokesman said in a statement.

Data from Equasis suggests that the Aegean Angel is owned by Ocean Tankers International, which shares an Athens address with Arcadia Shipmanagement.

The ship is classed by ABS and maintains insurance cover with the London P&I Club.