A worker who disappeared from a Rio Tinto ship since Boxing Day remains missing

A crew member of a Rio Tinto ship that was en route to Australia remains missing nearly three weeks after he disappeared at sea.

A crew member of a Rio Tinto ship remains missing after disappearing on Boxing Day en route to WA, despite a search by the Philippine Coast Guard and other ships.

Reports that the PCG may have found a helmet belonging to Gel Aguaviva floating at sea have been played down.

“Early in the search, one of the searching ships spotted an object that may have been a hard-hat, but lost sight of it, with a subsequent aerial search of the area not producing any positive results,” a Rio Tinto spokesman said.

“It is unknown if it was a hard-hat or something else, or whether it could have been Gel’s.

“We are not aware of anything that suggests the Philippine Coast Guard has spotted or found any related items related to the disappearance in its search.”

Mr Aguaviva was last seen as the ship travelled through international waters near the Philippines towards Australia on Boxing Day.

The 44-year-old deck fitter and father was reportedly an experienced worker.

A chaplain who visited the crew while the ship was anchored in far northern WA said a helmet may have been found at seas.

Gel Aguaviva is a husband and father. Picture: Supplied

The Philippine Coast Guard has been contacted for comment.

Bulk carrier RTM Zheng He was travelling from China to northern WA when Mr Aguaviva was last seen. Now almost three weeks after his disappearance, NewsWire understands the Philippine Coast Guard has temporarily paused the search but alerted passing vessels to stay vigilant.

Mr Aguaviva was employed by ship operator Anglo Eastern, which was crewing the Rio Tinto vessel.

Reverend John Chong travelled to northern WA to meet with the ship’s crew. Picture: Supplied

A Rio Tinto spokesperson told NewsWire before the Philippine Coast Guard took over the search that Rio initiated two aerial searches.

However, because the ship sails under the Singaporean flag and Mr Aguaviva was last seen while the vessel was in international waters, the Maritime Port Authority of Singapore becomes the primary investigating authority.

The RTM Zheng He circled back to the assumed search area when the crew realised Mr Aguaviva was missing, Mr Chong told the ABC.

Having not found him, the ship continued on to Dampier, 1200km north of Perth.

Rio Tinto is doing its own investigation at the same time as the Singaporeans. The spokesperson said Rio Tinto executives went on-board after the ship anchored.

The ship has departed Western Australia, headed for the eastern Chinese city of Qingdao. Picture: marinetraffic.com

“Rio Tinto executives visited the vessel on January 7 at the Port of Dampier to engage with the crew and check on their wellbeing,” the spokesperson said.

“The visit occurred after the vessel’s arrival – at anchorage, following rest and mental health support for the crew.”

Anglo Eastern representatives have visited Mr Aguaviva’s family “several times to offer support and information”.

Rio and Anglo Eastern have arranged 24 hour access to medical and mental health support services, care packages, and organised the chaplain and psychologist to visit the vessel.

Mr Aguaviva’s wife told SBS Filipino that she spoke with her husband the day before he went missing.

“It pains me deeply that this happened to him. I won’t stop until I know the whole truth about what happened to him … I can’t fully comprehend why this happened or where he is,” Necie May told SBS.

Her husband was due home in May for their teenager’s graduation.

“We just want to know what happened and ensure Gel didn’t suffer because of someone else’s actions,” Ms May said.