Despite a large-scale air and sea operation lasting more than 96 hours, 22-year-old Indian merchant navy cadet Karandeep Singh Rana remains missing off the Sri Lankan coast, according to a statement released by his employer, Executive Ship Management (ESM).
The company said that an independent surveyor has been appointed to carry out a comprehensive investigation into the incident to ensure the process remains transparent and impartial. The surveyor visited the vessel on 7 October and is expected to submit a detailed report once the review is complete.
ESM stated that the final report would be shared with all relevant bodies, including the Flag State, India’s Directorate General of Shipping, the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), and the Indian Embassy in China, as well as with the family, after approval by all concerned authorities.
The firm clarified that the process follows international maritime protocols and regulatory oversight, not decisions made solely by the company.
Cadet Rana, a resident of Dehradun’s Patel Nagar, reportedly went missing on 20 September while serving aboard an oil tanker en route to China from Iraq via Sri Lanka. His father, Narendra Singh Rana, had said earlier that his son had departed Dehradun for Singapore on 18 August, from where he boarded the tanker. The family has since appealed to Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and the central government to assist in locating him.
According to ESM, a full-scale search and rescue operation was initiated immediately after the cadet was reported missing. The ship’s crew coordinated with maritime authorities, coastal rescue coordination centres, and aerial surveillance units. Two other merchant vessels also joined the mission, alongside helicopters deployed by the Sri Lankan authorities.
Despite these efforts, the company confirmed that Cadet Rana could not be located after more than four days of search operations.
ESM mentioned that it has been in constant contact with the cadet’s family, providing emotional and logistical support. Representatives from the company’s Delhi office visited the family on 24 September, during which a 45-minute conversation was arranged between them and the vessel’s crew.
The company added that, at the family’s request, it is assisting them in securing passports and travel documents to visit the ship in China and is currently coordinating with the Chinese Embassy regarding visa formalities.
ESM said its in-house psychologists are offering counselling sessions to help the seafarers cope with the emotional distress caused by the disappearance.
The company expressed its sympathies to the family, stating that it remains committed to providing full support while investigations continue. It also requested that the privacy of both the family and crew be respected.
Reference: PTI
