Joseph Marusak, a 51-year-old merchant mariner from San Diego, California, was reported missing on February 21, 2013, after he disappeared from the container ship APL Philippines. At the time of his disappearance, Marusak was serving as an Able Seaman and was four days out of Yokohama, Japan. The circumstances leading to him going missing remain unclear, sparking a search and a subsequent long-standing missing person case.
The alarm was raised when Marusak, an AB Watchstander, did not report for his four-to-eight watch. This led to a thorough search of the vessel. After he could not be located on board, the APL Philippines reversed its course and conducted a 24-hour grid search of the area where he was last known to be. A poignant ceremony was held by the crew, during which they signed a life ring and cast it into the sea at his last known position before the ship resumed its voyage.
Marusak was described as a 6-foot-2-inch-tall white male, weighing approximately 240 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. His case is officially documented by the State of California's Department of Justice, with the San Diego Police Department listed as the reporting agency. Notably, there were no indications of unusual behavior from Marusak prior to his disappearance. It was reported that he had taken a cash draw for his anticipated shore leave in Yokohama, and no personal note was found, adding to the perplexing nature of his vanishing at sea. The official investigation into his disappearance has not publicly released any conclusions regarding the cause.Last Seen: Feb 21, 2013
