The family of a 26-yo man from Andheri has alleged he went missing from a Costa Cruises ship that was sailing from Japan to China in November. The family has alleged the vessel was mid-sea when Savio Rasquinha disappeared, Mid-Day reported.
Savio, who worked as a steward on Costa Serena, left Japan’s Nagasaki for Shanghai in China – his first destination – on September 12.
“Savio was a very quiet and hard-working person. He had worked for several five and seven-star hotels after he passing his hotel management course. He used to tell us it was his dream to see the world, so he joined the cruise liner,” his mother Philomena told the daily.
On November 19, his family received a call informing them about Savio’s disappearance.
A few days later, Savio’s family members boarded the cruise in Shanghai to collect his belongings.
His twin brother Shawn said:
“On 28 November, we went on board with lots of questions in our mind but returned with many of them unanswered. What’s mysterious is that my brother disappeared mid-sea, while his bag and clothes were still onboard. His cell phone is missing, but his ID card was found near the passenger balcony.”
He said that his brother had signed in for duty on 18 November but pointed out that there was no record of him signing out. His family has alleged that they believe Savio's luggage was forced open and tampered with.
Search operations were launched but to no avail. In a statement, the cruise company said:
"Immediate search and rescue operation was carried out by Costa Serena in accordance with IAMSAR (International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue). The SAR operation was later handed over to JCG (Japanese Coast Guard) vessels.... The HR Department is still in touch with the family after their return to Mumbai on 1 December. Any further information of the case will be closely monitored and updated to the family."
Savio’s mother said that the family has approached Minister of External Affairs, Sushma Swaraj as well as the embassies of Shanghai and Italy – where the cruise company is based. They are yet to receive a response, she said.