A captain along with 18 crew members have been held as captives in Dubai and have requested the government for help to enable them to return home.
What happened?
Since December, 2017, the crew members of the cargo vessel ‘MV Shaker’ are facing a hard time as their passports have been confiscated by the UAE authorities and they are running short of money and rations.
They are being held captive by the UAE authorities after the shipping company owned large amount of debt over cargo services.
They have desperately requested the Indian government to enable them to return home as soon as possible.
Captain Vikas Raj said, “Our passports have been confiscated and we are running out of money. We have nothing to eat now. Our families back in India recharge our mobile phones, which is the only medium to be in contact with. We have written to the Indian embassy here but nothing has happened so far”.
Captured due to debt
The captain and nine among the crew are on the payroll of Rassiya Shipping Services Private Limited, with their registered office in Mumbai. The agency works as a managing agent for shipping companies.
Nitesh Srivastav, Director of Rassiya Shipping, said; “The vessel was seized and the seafarers were detained as the company, which was supposed to receive the cargo, owed huge amount of dues against port servicing charge. Dubai-based company Bunker Suppliers defaulted on its dues and authorities seized the vessel. However, they held captive the crew members also. We along with ship owners are in constant touch but the matter is now subjudice in a UAE court”.
Families desperate
The families of the detained crew have been facing a harrowing time. The captain’s wife Sindhu said that the mother of one of the crew members died on Tuesday, but they chose not to inform him about the tragedy. Another crew member’s wedding was planned for March 4, which had to be cancelled.
Seeking government help
She further added, “I have been tweeting to external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj but have not got any response. I appeal Indian authorities to rescue my husband and others as they have nothing to do with the matter related to the Dubai based company”.
Maritime expert Vineet Kumar said that in such cases crew members should be released and the government should intervene. “UAE authorities can’t hold the crew members hostage. They are not even the employee of the defaulter company. This is against maritime norms”.
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Source: News18
