A forensic investigation has begun into the disappearance of an officer from a Teekay suezmax.

The shipowner has confirmed to TradeWinds that junior third officer Cristito "Cris" Acosta, a Filipino national, is not on board the vessel, despite his family's fears he may have been held on the tanker against his will.

Acosta went missing from the 159,000-dwt, Bahamas-flagged, suezmax Jiaolong Spirit (built 2009) on 23 April, 155 nautical miles (287 km) off the Dominican Republic.