Zefeino Vaz Missing Person Case

Mar 17, 2020

Mar 22, 2024

Zefeino

Vaz

65

46

Asian

Male

In the harsh and unforgiving waters of the Bering Sea, 46-year-old Zefeino Vaz, a crew member of the Malaysian-flagged bulk carrier M/V Selendang Ayu, faced a perilous situation. On December 8, 2004, the vessel, en route from Seattle, Washington, to Xiamen, China, with a cargo of soybeans, experienced a catastrophic engine failure. The ship was left adrift in treacherous seas off the coast of Unalaska Island in Alaska's Aleutian Islands. As the weather worsened, the decision was made to evacuate the 26-person crew. During the dangerous rescue operations, tragedy struck when a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter was overwhelmed by a rogue wave and crashed into the sea. The chaos of the helicopter crash resulted in the loss of six crew members, including Zefeino Vaz. While three of the helicopter's crew and one sailor were rescued from the frigid waters, Zefeino and five of his fellow crewmen were tragically swept away by the unforgiving waves. An extensive search was launched by the Coast Guard, but facing the harsh reality of the 43-degree water temperature and the lack of survival suits for the missing crew, the search was called off two days later. The missing men, wearing only life jackets over their street clothes, were presumed to have perished in the incident. The grounding of the Selendang Ayu not only resulted in a tragic loss of life but also caused a significant environmental disaster. The vessel broke in two, spilling an estimated 350,000 gallons of fuel oil and diesel into the pristine Alaskan waters. This devastating oil spill had a profound impact on the local ecosystem, oiling approximately 86 miles of shoreline and harming various marine wildlife, including seabirds and sea otters. The incident prompted a massive cleanup effort that lasted for months. The case of Zefeino Vaz and the other missing crew members serves as a somber reminder of the dangers faced by those who work at sea and the profound consequences that maritime disasters can have on both human lives and the environment.

Dec 08, 2004

Unalaska

Alaska

Aleutians West Census Area

No

77824

Alaska State Troopers

Anchorage

Alaska

Anchorage Borough

99507

Malia Miller

Missing Persons Clearinghouse Manager

5700 East Tudor Road, Alaska

9072695511

State

Law Enforcement

040095117

2004-12-08

Alaska State Troopers

Black

Brown

Brown

06/27/2026