Kottayam: The recent news of a ship sinking off the Kerala coast has brought back haunting memories of the mysterious disappearance of MV Kairali, a bulk carrier owned by Kerala Shipping Corporation (KSC).

The ship disappeared with her crew of 49 and 20,000 tonnes of iron ore on 3 July 1979 while sailing from Margao to Rostock, Germany, via Djibouti. Commanded by Captain Mariadas Joseph, the ship was last heard from as it journeyed through turbulent waters and has not been seen or heard from since.

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Wife of the elder son of MV Kairali’s missing captain, Mariadas Joseph, with a photograph of him | Mathrubhumi

In Kottayam’s Upputtikavala, Joseph’s family is still searching for answers. The walls of their home are adorned with photographs and the model of a ship. The model was gifted to Joseph by the then Chief Minister of Kerala during his first homecoming aboard the Kairali. He left for his ill-fated journey barely after moving into the dream home he had built with his savings

To this day, no trace of the ship or its crew has been found. Though the Kerala Shipping Corporation eventually ended its search and offered modest compensation from the insurance payout, many families felt abandoned, left with neither closure nor justice.

Among those who refused to give up was Joseph's wife, Marykutty. Holding onto hope, she inspired their elder son James Joseph to follow in his father’s footsteps. James is now a captain in the merchant navy. His younger brother, John Joseph, also chose a life at sea.

Marykutty passed away in 2010, without ever learning what became of her husband. But the family’s hope remains alive.

“We still believe we might one day know what really happened to MV Kairali and the men on board,” said Tiji James, wife of James Joseph.

Last Voyage of MV Kairali

Kairali set sail from Mormugao on 30 June 1979, carrying 20,538 tonnes of iron ore bound for Rostock, Germany, with a scheduled refuelling stop at Djibouti. Communication with the vessel continued on July 1, 2, and 3. The final message from the ship was received at 8:00 PM on 3 July 1979.

Concern arose when Kairali failed to arrive in Djibouti for its scheduled refuelling on 8 July. The ship's agents in Djibouti informed KSC about the ship’s non-arrival only on July 11. Despite the growing concerns, a formal search operation was delayed and only began on 16 July.

The Indian Navy launched reconnaissance flights over the region where Kairali last made contact, but after multiple attempts yielded no results, the search was eventually called off. The vessel, along with all 51 crew members, was never found.