Goan youth goes missing at sea

Goan youth goes missing at sea
Preetu Nair | TNN

Benaulim (South Goa): For a fortnight now, ever since their son went missing, the D’Silva family has been swinging between hope and despair. Their 25-year-old son Joaquim, a kitchen hand on an Italian ship, was last seen on March 22. The ship was headed to Porto Lemon, Costa Rica.
“We have no clue whether he is dead or alive. We only know that his cabin mate last saw him around 11:45 pm on March 22,’’ said Joaquim’s father Caetano, a fisherman. The family alleges that maritime authorities have made no effort to trace Joaquim. “It is obvious from the captain’s report that no effort has been made to investigate the matter. The report looks like an attempt to conceal facts,’’ said Caetano.
Joaquim finally got a job after waiting for two years and paying an agent Rs 2.2 lakh. The athletic graduate joined MSC Lirica, owned by the Mediterranean Shipping Company, Italy, on January 29. When he last called his family on March 19, Joaquim sounded happy, said his father. Two days later, he sent an e-mail to his girlfriend. He had promised to call his family on Easter (March 23).
The family has lodged a complaint with the Colva police and also written to Vice-Admiral John De Silva, chairman of Overseas Employment Agency of Goa. Confirming that a crew member of an Italian ship had gone missing, officials from recruiting agency Imperial Ocean Management Inc, Margao, said, “The captain has informed the coast guard and maritime authorities in Costa Rica.”

2008 Apr 13 Times Of India Mumbai