‘Rescue missing seafarer’

The aggrieved family of a seafarer, Bevin Thomas (22), from Punnaikayal in the district, approached the Collectorate here on Monday and sought the intervention of the district administration in rescuing him.

Several relatives and members of Punnaikayal Seafarers’ Welfare Association thronged the Collectorate and staged an agitation.

Bevin Thomas went missing after the Indian cargo ship ‘Emerald Star’, in which he was employed, capsized off the Philippines coast on October 13.

The agitating members carried newspaper clippings about a crew of ten seafarers including Bevin Thomas, who went missing from the ship.

After submitting a petition to Collector N. Venkatesh, the seafarer’s father, Bevin said the Collector had already taken up this issue with the government authorities for necessary action. Earlier, the family submitted petition for his rescue on October 16, he said.

Asvalt, relative of the seafarer, told

The Hindu that ‘Admiral Shipping,’ the company that employed, Bevin Thomas, washed off its hands when contacted the staff there. Even after several days of his missing, the grief stricken family had been informed by the company that search was still on. But, there was no declaration from the company whether the seafarer was alive or dead.

A. Darson, secretary, District Fishermen Wing, Punnaikayal, said only when the missing seafarer was declared dead, the company would provide compensation to the family.