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Sri Lankan seafarer missing without a trace feared dead
A Sri Lankan seafarer on a foreign-flagged ship, has on October 22 gone missing without a trace and is feared dead. The ship was sailing to the port of Fujairahin the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a maritime union source said yesterday. Able Seaman (AB) Saverimuttu Alagu Samuel (45) a father of one and a resident of Kotahena, last spoke to his family on October 17, but since then, there has been no communication from him, Ranjan Perera of the International Transport-workers Federation (ITF) told the Sunday Times.
Saverimuttu Alagu Samuel
Mr Perera said the ITF – a body that monitors the welfare of active seafarers worldwide – has launched an investigation to ascertain the whereabouts of the missing AB, and that the matter has already been taken up with the recruiting agent, the ship owner and with the Ministry of External Affairs in Colombo.
“The Liberian-flagged oil tanker MT Beta owned by the Fujairah based Ionian Shipping Agency has since been arrested by the authorities and kept in anchorage at Fujaraih Port until investigations are completed,” Mr. Perera said. According to Mr. Perera, AB Saverimuttu had boarded the vessel on March 7, and his contract was due to end this December.
“Our initial investigations have revealed that the man’s employer was prompt in the payment of wages and that there were no complaints by the AB. “However, it is standard maritime procedure that the employer will have to pay compensation to the man’s family irrespective of the circumstances surrounding the case, and hence, along with the ITF in London and other stakeholders, we are working towards this end,” he added.
The victim’s wife, Shomala told the Sunday Times that in her last telephone conversation with her husband, he did not sound as though he had any problems, and indicated he would be home for Christmas. “This was on October 17, but since then there has been no contact, and his mobile phone has been switched off. I also tried to make contact with the ship’s Captain, but with little or no success.
MT Beta
“It is difficult to understand what really went wrong, because his employer and even the Captain were good and honest persons who had even visited our home during a stopover at Colombo Port,” she said.
Officials of Linco Trade and Shipping in Colombo, who recruited the missing seafarer, could not be reached yesterday for comment in this regard.
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