THOOTHUKUDI
The family of a seafarer, Bevin Thomas (22), from Punnaikayal in the district, approached the Collectorate here on Monday evening and sought the intervention of the district administration in rescuing him.
Bevin Thomas went missing after the Indian cargo ship ‘Emerald Star’, in which he was employed, capsized off Philippines coast on October 13.
The family members were shocked to know that the ship, which was sailing towards China from Indonesia with a crew of 26 Indian seafarers, capsized due to rough weather condition, Bevin Fernando, father of Bevin Thomas, told The Hindu on Tuesday.
Mr. Fernando, hailing from a poor economic background, said he was engaged in fishing, but his earning was not enough to run the family. “Bevin Thomas is a promising breadwinner of the family. We keep him in our prayers, hoping for his return soon,” he said.
Sixteen of the seafarers on board the ship were rescued, Mr. Fernando said, adding the family strongly believed that Bevin Thomas would also be rescued.
Then, the family members submitted a petition to Collector N. Venkatesh, who told them that steps were being taken in this regard.
Sources said 11 of the seafarers on the ship were rescued by a merchant vessel, ‘Densa Cobra’, in Xiamen, China, and five others by merchant vessel, ‘SM Samarinda’, in Philippines.
