Authorities in the UK have confirmed they’re investigating after two officers died on board a Manx-flagged ship last month.

The Maritime Accident Investigation Branch is probing the deaths of the Sally Ann C ‘s chief officer and chief engineer.

They collapsed in a cargo hold containing timber as the general cargo bulk carrier travelled along the coast of Senegal to Dakar on March 13.

Carisbrooke Shipping, which owns the vessel, says the ship's second officer tried to help his two colleagues, but lost consciousness and had to be revived.

Carisbrooke says the surviving officer will be flown home to the Philippines, while the bodies of the chief officer and chief engineer have already been returned to their homes in Russia and Ukraine.

The firm says it implemented preventative measures across its fleet and is also looking to discover what happened aboard the ship.

The Marine Accident Investigation branch investigates accidents at sea involving UK vessels worldwide.

It’s not yet known when its report into the deaths will be published.