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In an incredible survival story, the bulk carrier 'Arpeggio' came to the rescue of Aldi Novel Adilang, an Indonesian teenager who spent an astonishing 49 days adrift on a wooden fish trap. This dramatic event took place on August 31, 2018, when Adilang, 18, found himself stranded approximately 1,200 miles from his starting point near North Sulawesi after his rompong, or fishing raft, broke free from its moorings. At just 16, Adilang had taken on one of the world’s most isolated jobs as a lamp lighter on a rompong, a wooden structure designed to attract fish at night. Supplies, including essential food and fuel for the raft’s generator, were delivered roughly once a week. After running out of food within the first week, Adilang resorted to fishing and drinking seawater squeezed from his soaked clothing to survive. Throughout his harrowing ordeal, he utilized a portable radio to send distress signals by turning on a lamp each time he spotted a passing ship. Early on August 31, he managed to catch the attention of 'Arpeggio' by shining his light and signaling for help. The ship, initially passing at a mile's distance, altered its path to assist. Upon docking at Tokuyama, Japan, the crew promptly contacted the Indonesian mission, and consular officials were able to retrieve him on September 6. Adilang was finally reunited with his family when he returned to Indonesia on September 8, after a grueling month and 18 days on the open sea. Reflecting on his survival, Adilang recounted having to improvise during dry spells, saying, “When it didn’t rain for days, I had to soak my clothes in the sea, then I squeezed and drank the water.” His father, Alfian Adilang, expressed immense relief at his son’s safe return but also voiced anger towards the employer, highlighting this was not the first time the raft had drifted; it had been rescued twice prior by the owner's vessel. After the traumatic experience, Adilang has decided against continuing his work on a rompong due to safety concerns surrounding the raft's mooring methods, which had previously failed due to worn ropes. This extraordinary tale of survival serves as a reminder of the dangers faced by young workers in precarious jobs and the relentless power of the sea.