ILOILO City – The two Ilonggos among four people missing after fire broke out on a cargo vessel in the Arabian Sea last week are now presumed dead.
Danish Maersk Line, the world’s biggest container shipping company, announced that human remains of three of the four missing crew members of Maersk Honam have been found on board the vessel though these remained unidentified.
“Given the time passed and the severe fire damages of the vessel we must conclude by now that we have lost all four colleagues,” Maersk Line stated in its website.
Fire struck Maersk Honam on March 6. The two Ilonggo ship cadets missing were John Rey Begaso of Barangay Balabago, Jaro district here and Janrey Genovatin of Barangay Cagbang, Oton, Iloilo. Both were 21 years old.
“Our most heartfelt condolences go out to families of our deceased colleagues. We share their sorrow and do our outmost to support them in this devastating time,” said Chief Operating Officer Søren Toft.
All four families of the presumed dead ship crew members have been informed of this latest development.
Begaso and Genovatin were engine cadets from John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University (JBLFMU).
A thorough search on board the Maersk Honam continues, according to Maersk Line. However, the active search and rescue mission at sea would be brought to a halt.
The search and rescue operation began immediately after Maersk Honam had sent out a distress signal due to a serious fire aboard, according to Maersk Line. Several container vessels diverted their route to assist in the search and rescue operation.
The Arabian Sea is a region of the northern Indian Ocean bounded on the north by Pakistan and Iran, on the west by north-eastern Somalia and the Arabian Peninsula, and on the east by India.
Maersk Honam caught fire off Agatti Isles in Lakshwadeep Islands near India.
Another Ilonggo onboard Maersk Honam, 21-year-old engine cadet Carl Vincent Chan, was injured but luckily rescued.
A full investigation will be conducted to determine the cause of the fire and the impact to the vessel and cargo, according to Maersk Line./PN
