The US Coast Guard has called off a search and rescue operation for a Singaporean seafarer who went missing after reportedly falling overboard from a bulk carrier off Los Angeles.
The crew on the ship, African Cardinal, had reported the disappearance of Muhammad Furqan Mohamed Rashid, 25, to the US Coast Guard around 5 am Californian time on 20 June. The ship, which was on its way from the US West Coast to China, was then about 25.5km off the Californian coast.
Muhammad Furqan is believed to have fallen off the Ultramax bulk carrier while exercising on the main deck. He is believed to have been employed by Singapore-based Apex Ship Management, which is handling the technical management of African Cardinal.
African Cardinal is owned by Japanese tonnage provider Okouchi Kaiun, which has chartered the ship to MUR Shipping.
Vessel-tracking data shows that African Cardinal had arrived in Long Beach on 21 June, and had set out for Ensenada, Mexico, when Muhammad Furqan reportedly fell off the ship.
The ship’s watch keeper is said to have dispatched the “Man Overboard” lifebuoy to pull him up but to no avail. African Cardinal then reversed course to search for Muhammad Furqan and the US Coast Guard was alerted.
The US Coast Guard sent two helicopters and two coast guard boats to the scene, while two other ships in the vicinity joined the search and rescue operation.
Los Angeles Daily News reported that the 15-hour search was ended after covering 200 nautical square miles.
Martina Li
Asia Correspondent
