Indian Merchant Navy Officer Missing From U.S Port, Family Blames Firm For Failing To Provide Updates

An Indian Merchant Navy officer from Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh has gone missing in the United States after failing to return to his vessel from shore leave at a port in Pennsylvania on May 6.

Manish Dwivedi, serving as a second officer with the Western Shipping Company on board the Singapore-flagged vessel Western Shipping Company and assigned to the vessel Sifnos Lady, was last seen during shore leave when the ship was docked at Marcus Hook Port in Philadelphia, United States.

According to his family, Dwivedi went ashore with three colleagues on the evening of May 6 and travelled towards the Concord Mall Best Buy area, but did not return to the ship.

His family said they last spoke with him on May 6, after which all communication suddenly stopped.

Manish’s father, Santosh Dwivedi, said the family later received a phone call from the company’s Mumbai office informing them that he was missing. He also alleged that the ship management company was not providing clear information about the situation.

Following the disappearance, the family met Union Minister and local Member of Parliament Anupriya Patel in Delhi on May 11, raising concerns over the lack of clarity from the ship management company regarding his whereabouts.

In response, Anupriya Patel wrote to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on May 12, requesting immediate coordination with Indian diplomatic missions in the United States and local authorities to trace the missing officer.

In her letter, she stated that the uncertainty surrounding Dwivedi’s safety had caused significant distress to his family and urged urgent assistance through the Embassy of India in the United States.

Dwivedi’s family confirmed that he last spoke to them on May 6. After that, all communication abruptly stopped.

His father said that despite continued efforts by crew members and relevant authorities, no information has been received regarding his whereabouts.

It was also stated that the three colleagues who accompanied him returned to the vessel, while Dwivedi did not. The ship reportedly proceeded with its voyage after the incident.

The vessel was berthed at Marcus Hook Port, a key commercial maritime facility in the Philadelphia region, at the time of the disappearance.

The family has accused the ship management company of not providing clear or consistent updates regarding the incident.

The incident occurred during a routine port call and shore leave period at Marcus Hook Port in Pennsylvania, United States, when crew members are typically allowed temporary disembarkation from the vessel under standard maritime operating procedures.

Shore leave operations in international shipping involve coordinated movement of crew members between vessel and shore under company and port regulations, often monitored through crew lists and return checks before vessel departure.

In this case, the missing officer failed to return to the vessel following authorised shore leave, leading to the initiation of internal reporting through the ship management chain and subsequent notification to the crew’s family.

Authorities and concerned stakeholders are continuing efforts to trace Manish Dwivedi.

The Indian Embassy in the United States has been urged to coordinate with local agencies, while the ship management company and crew remain engaged in internal reporting and communication with the family.

No confirmed information regarding his whereabouts has been established so far.

References: newindianexpress, timesofindia