Family of missing Singaporean sailor cling to hope for his safe return

SINGAPORE – The last time the family saw him was in December 2022, before the second officer set off for sail again on a ship managed by a local company.

When Mr Muhammad Furqan Mohamed Rashid, 25, was back on shore leave, the family of seven would spend whatever precious time they had together.

At 6.30am on Wednesday, the family got a call informing them that Mr Furqan

had fallen overboard somewhere in the Santa Barbara Channel

on the way to the Port of Long Beach and was missing.

The news is still hard to accept and it feels like a bad dream, said Mr Furqan’s elder brother.

Speaking to The Straits Times, Mr Fathul Islam Mohamed Rashid, 27, said: “Everything is just so hard to believe. A lot of things are still up in the air and there is nothing we can do but wait and hope.”

He added that he last spoke to his brother about a week ago on June 14, when Mr Furqan called to wish him a happy birthday.

All they know now from a representative of Apex Ship Management is that Mr Furqan had fallen from the main deck of the Panama-flagged African Cardinal on Tuesday morning, off the coast of California.

The watchkeeper on board saw the incident and began shouting to alert other crew members. He also threw a lifebuoy into the water.

As the vessel began a frantic search for the sailor, the crew also lodged a report with the US Coast Guard, which activated a rescue helicopter and two boats, as well as a second helicopter later, to help find Mr Furqan.

Two nearby cargo vessels also assisted in the operation, but the search was called off after nearly 15 hours, with only the lifebuoy found.

“The decision to suspend an active search is never easy and is made only after exhaustive efforts to find the missing person,” Mr John Rose, the search and rescue mission coordinator from the US Coast Guard was quoted as saying in Los Angeles Daily News.

“We extend our deepest sympathies to this crew member’s friends and family,” he added.

In response to ST’s queries, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) confirmed that the US Coast Guard was activated to help in the search efforts but did not manage to locate Mr Furqan.

“No other Singaporeans were on board the African Cardinal,” MPA said, adding that it is rendering support to Mr Furqan’s family.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also said it was in touch with Mr Furqan’s family.

“We will continue to monitor developments and render the necessary consular support to the family during this difficult time,” said its spokesman.

On her social media account, Mr Furqan’s sister Nur Afifah Mohamed Rashid posted a number of messages she had received from her brother’s friends.

“He was one of the kindest souls I’ve ever known,” said one of Mr Furqan’s former schoolmates. “Everyone had cliques but he was always neutral and kind to everyone around him.”

Another friend said Mr Furqan is a “humble young man loved by many”, and “his character just never fails to impress me”.

Recalling his brother’s love for the job, Mr Fathul said: “Ever since he was little, his passion was always the sea. He dreamed of working on board a ship, and he worked hard to achieve his dream.

“He took up a diploma in nautical studies at Singapore Polytechnic and did his national service as a firefighter in the Singapore Civil Defence Force Marine Division.”

Mr Furqan’s family members continue to hold out hope that he will be found.

Mr Fathul said: “We hope he will come back to us. If he’s still alive, then that will be the best possible outcome, but we will leave it to God’s will.”