But the bones of the only person killed when the refueling tanker Insiko 1907 caught fire remain in limbo. And that has left Susan Siu, chief investigator with the Office of the Honolulu Medical Examiner, quietly seething.

"It is another life lost and nobody seems to care," Siu said. "They only care about the dog."

Siu took custody of the remains in May, but at this point she cannot positively identify them even though the only crewman unaccounted for was Nian Qihui of the People's Republic of China.

Nian was in the engine room when the ship caught fire on March 13 and that's where the bones were found.

"Thats who they said he is, but I don't know yet," Siu said. "I doubt if we ever will."

The medical examiner often identifies remains using official dental records and the bones found include teeth.

But the Consulate General of the Peoples Republic of China in Los Angeles told Siu that Chinese dentists do not keep such records.

Consul Liang Zhengquan said he is waiting for a positive identification before he Nian can go home to his family in Fujian Province.

"They should have him cremated and send the ashes back," Liang said.

The best information Liang could offer Siu was a description of recent dental work. She said that wouldn't be good enough.

Because the bones were burned, Siu doubts that a DNA analysis will work.

"We can't just say it's him," she said. "This one is going to be a hard one."

If the bones are never identified they will be cremated as a John Doe and the ashes scattered.

The last man from the Insiko will remain No. 02060.

Reach Mike Gordon at mgordon@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8012.