Missing Bandra shippie shocks colony; well-wishers cling on to hope
Missing Bandra shippie shocks colony; well-wishers cling on to hope
Renford Braganza, chief engineer on the British Unity ship, which is part of the BP (British Petroleum) fleet, has been missing since the morning of May 11 from the ship. The ship was sailing from Sweden to the East Coast of US carrying cargo and Braganza mysteriously 'disappeared' from the ship while it was in the mid-Atlantic.
Since then, Braganza's family in Scarborough (Canada), Braganza migrated to Canada several months ago from Mumbai, is in shock. His wife Niloufer Braganza, simply said a curt, 'yes' on the phone when asked if the BP Company was being supportive refusing to divulge any more details. Renford has two daughters.
In Mumbai, Braganza lived at the Mount Carmel Housing Society, near Mount Carmel Church in Bandra west. The housing society comprises a cluster of low-storied buildings. When this reporter visited the colony on Friday morning, trying to find more pieces of this tragic puzzle, a lady at the San Sebastian building in the colony asked hopefully, "Have you any news about him, anything at all?" echoing the growing concern and desperation amongst residents in this quiet, leafy colony. She said sadly, "He was a handsome man. Friendly and affable. He was a young man."
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Mayday
The BP press office in London said in a statement, 'Renford's shipboard colleagues could not locate him after he failed to appear on the morning of May 11 and raised the alarm. A 'Mayday' to vessels in the mid Atlantic area and a full search of the ship was undertaken... After extensive searching we now have to assume that he will not be found, and should be presumed lost at sea.'
On Friday, David Nicolas spokesperson from the London office confirmed over the phone that "BP is still conducting an internal investigation, trying to find out what had happened." When asked if the family was being compensated Nicolas said, "It is far too early to say anything." He added, though, that the family (his wife and children) are being supported. Incidentally, Braganza's cousins Glenn Sampy (Compliance Manager) and Leroy Sampy (Master, British Cormorant), also work within BP Shipping.
Lorna D'Souza, Renford's sister and the only sibling in Mumbai she lives in the Agnello Abode building of Mt Carmel Society says that Renford had joined BP Shipping approximately five years ago. She adds, "We do not know what has happened. A BP representative came here after the incident. I am in touch with my sister-in-law, (Niloufer) and get any information from her."
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