To Alfie's family, We send our sympaties from Portugal. My memory is quite week and I was not associating the name. Now that this mail writes about Radio officers, yes I knew Alfred very well, when in twelfth standard.
In fact I used to have long chats with him when I was debating whether to do Electronics Engineering, Marine, or other. He was a very humble and helpful person. May his soul rest in peace. Melhores Cumprimentos, Leão Fernandes (Donvado) Area de sistemas de Informação Companhia Logística de Combustíveis, sa -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Maxwell Sent: sexta-feira, 7 de Abril de 2006 13:42 To: [email protected]; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [SALIGAONET] Radio Officer - ALFRED V. De SOUZA....a High Calibre Proffesionaland always Cool under fire. ALFRED VINCENT DE SOUZA was a 'Radio Officer' by Proffession. At the time he graduated, R.O's as they were called, were a very special breed of professionals and very many trained each year but only very few qualified each time. The first Job assignment he undertook he completed one sailing trip on board a Ship as a Radio Officer, to the Far East and Australia. He then joined ONGC the premier Oil Company organisation of the Government of India, as a Radio Officer and had been in service for the last 20 years or so. He was always known to be extremely proffesional in his work and rose in the ranks steadily to become Management staff. Though he had a 14 day on and 14 day off Work and leave pattern he always craved for home and family. We use to be more in touch online whilst he was at work offshore. I was in fact keenly looking forward to him being connected to the internet at home........and he almost was........... I still cannot believe what has happened. Below I have copied 2 emails which I had sent out to a couple of close and common freinds then, on 3rd September 2003. Please read on........... Q U O T E : 3rd Sept 2003. Know this man any of you?........... Yes, you all do... Well, he is none other than our common and close friend, ALFRED VINCENT DE SOUZA (Son of Joan and late Eddie, Brother of late Eric and Claire from Arrarim Saligao.) ATTABOY Alf keep it up !! Alfred offshore on duty at this time was called out onshore from Neelam yesterday for a felicitation ceremony in which the ONGC Chairman, Mr.Subir Raha, gave out awards to those who took part in the Search & Rescue operations after the chopper crash on 11th August. Below is the article which appeared in the ONGC website. Maxwell Coutinho Abu Dhabi/UAE ++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 11th August 2003 was a fateful day in the history of ONGC's offshore operations and indeed, in the history of the offshore oil industry worldwide. On this day, at 1217 hrs, all of us were shocked numb and enveloped by a great tragedy. The combined crew change Helicopter of S/Kiran and S/Jyoti plunged into the water, sending waves of shock and sorrow among us. The crash left 25 dead and 2 missing. Two ONGC employees, Mr. A. J. Mhatre and Mr. V. S. Mandloi survived miraculously, thanks to the heroic effort of Mr. Mhatre. Mr. Mhatre deserves the highest praise and commendation for acting heroically to save human life. MR.A. V. D'Souza, Radio Officer at Neelam, who controlled search and rescue operations: In the eye of the storm, amidst the extraordinary stress, shock and sorrow of the moment, there was one man who had to act swiftly and decisively, with a cool head and enormous presence of mind. Controlling the ships and aircraft engaged in the search and rescue operation was Mr. A.V. D'Souza, Radio Officer manning the Neelam Radio Room. From 1217 hrs of 11/8/2003 to 0230 hrs the next morning, more than 14 hours at a stretch, there was enormous pressure and stress focused on one man. The Radio Officers duties involve co-ordinating and directing search and rescue operations. The crash of 11th August 2003 was a tragedy of great magnitude. With up to six aircraft operating simultaneously in the field and more than half a dozen ships to monitor and direct, at this time of great shock, stress and sorrow, it called for skill and temperament of an exceptional order to act swiftly and decisively. Mr. A. V. D'Souza rose to the occasion splendidly. Every radio call from helicopters, ships, rigs, platforms and base stations was answered promptly and efficiently. Communication was precise and clear. There was no trace of confusion or hesitation. For the sheer skill and tireless energy of his effort, Mr.A.V.D'Souza deserves high praise and commendation. The performance of Mr.A.V.D'Souza, monitored by many Radio stations was highly commended by one and all, including pilots and heads of offshore installations. It is, therefore, highly appropriate and deserving to express our appreciation of an outstanding performance in circumstances of great shock and sorrow. (The above are the personal impressions recorded by G. Ashok, Radio Officer at S/Gaurav, who monitored Mr.A. V. D'Souza's performance in the immediate aftermath of the tragic crash.) I would like to add to this the contribution of the Azal Helicopters Capt. Padmanabhan, And Capt. Soman, who in the midst of Production sorties sighted the body of late Shri Murthy, 10 days after the disaster floating. All the resources were mobilised for recovery and within 4hrs. the body was at Helibase for embalming/cremation. Here the Contribution of the Master and Crew of Seamach-III requires special mention. Further, the Director (Offshore), Director (T&F), Shri NK Mitra, GGM (P) and others who were Coming to the Field took the pains to divert to the Seamach-III, to help identify the body. This gesture of the Senior Officers to land on the floater and remain there to supervise the entire Operation was a typical characteristics of the ONGC family and its APNAPAN. =J S CETLUR, HEERA PROCESS COMPLEX. _______________________________________________ Saligao 403511 website http://saligao.goa-india.org Saligaonet mailing list [email protected] http://lists.goacom.org/mailman/listinfo/saligaonet _______________________________________________ Saligao 403511 website http://saligao.goa-india.org Saligaonet mailing list [email protected] http://lists.goacom.org/mailman/listinfo/saligaonet
