An Indian deck cadet has gone missing from a Belgian product tanker during a Pacific transit.
The 50,000-dwt MR Resolve II (built 2019) was heading from Noumea in New Caledonia to Singapore when the man was lost on 5 April.
Operator Transpetrol and crew provider Wilhelmsen Ship Management India said on Monday that they were sad to announce the “much-valued” cadet was missing.
The vessel issued a distress call and immediately turned back on its course to begin searching the sea where the cadet was last confirmed on board.
It also contacted the Singaporean and Indonesian coastal authorities to co-ordinate search-and-rescue efforts.
“Sadly, after 34 hours of searching, the cadet was still unaccounted for and the majority of search-and-rescue operations were called off,” the companies said in a statement sent to TradeWinds.
“Efforts to locate the cadet are continuing under the authority of the Timor coast station. Transpetrol and Wilhelmsen Ship Management India express deep concern for the missing cadet and extend every sympathy to his family at this difficult time,” they added.
The two operations will now cooperate with the authorities in the investigation into the circumstances of the incident.
Indian media named the missing man as 22-year-old Pranav Karad from Pune.
His family are seeking help from Indian authorities.
First job on tanker
Father Gopal Karad said his son had completed a course in nautical sciences from MIT in Pune.
This was his first job at sea, and he was six months into an 11-month deal.
“The company is telling us that the search is on but nothing more about how he went missing. We spoke to him on a WhatsApp call on Thursday. The company is not providing any contacts of others serving with him,” Karad said to the Indian Express.
And he told the Pune Times Mirror: “It was his dream to be part of the merchant navy. He was happy on Thursday when we last spoke.
“I just want my son back. His mother is in deep shock.”
