A Canadian crewmember of HMCS Regina has died in Tanzania while off-duty in the east African country.

In a statement issued Tuesday, the Department of National Defence said the unidentified crewman died in a Tanzanian hospital on Monday. The sailor, who was based out of CFB Esquimalt, British Columbia, was en route to Canada on scheduled leave.

The statement called the circumstances around the crewman's death "unknown." It said the Canadian Military Police would work with authorities in Dar Es Salaam on the investigation.

"I would like to express my heartfelt condolences to the friends and family of our crewman," the ship's commanding officer, Cmr. Daniel Charlebois, said in a statement.

"He was well-liked and respected by his peers and his presence will be dearly missed by all the ship’s company of HMCS Regina."

HMCS Regina is currently sailing in the Indian Ocean as part of Operation ARTEMIS, a counter-terrorism and security operation in the Arabian Sea that began in mid-February.

The name of the deceased crewman is not being released at the request of his family.

His death is the second in recent months, after a 33-year-old sailor was found dead in another off-duty incident in early January.

Lt. Andrew F. Webster was found dead on Jan. 2 in a hotel room in the small African nation of Seychelles.

At the time of his death, Webster was taking leave from HMCS Toronto, which was also part of counter-terrorism operations in the Arabian Sea.

Officials said his death was non-combat related and foul play was not suspected.