Three Indian Seafarers Held in Indonesia since Feb this year

Padmesh Prabhune

Three Indian Seafarers are being held in Indonesia since February this year. They are Capt Sandeep Bhasker, CE Sanjay Pandey, and CO Siyaab Salam. Presently they are at a hotel in Indonesia despite being proven not guilty for the wreckage of the ship MT Aashi.

The incident occurred as the Gabon-flagged ship, MT Aashi, grounded near Nias Islands on February 15. The vessel was carrying an asphalt cargo from the port of Khor Fakkan on the east coast of UAE and was on its way to Padang and Sibolga. However while crossing the Noyo river estuary, North Nias Regency, the ship experienced a leak and had to anchor.

On inspection by the authorities it was found that due to porous plates and large waves hitting during the recent bad weather, the ship had sprung a leak.

The report of the investigation carried out by Indonesian authorities declared the three seafarers innocent.

Recalling the incident, the Chief Officer Salam said, “The vessel was loaded with asphalt and we were heading from Dubai to Indonesia. The weather condition was good till February 10, but soon it deteriorated and we noticed that the vessel had listed towards starboard. Our crew inspected and learnt that there was a hole in the vessel. So we moved the ship towards the coast.”

He adds, “After obtaining due permission from the Indonesian authorities on 13th February, we anchored the vessel at Nias Islands where the concerned local agencies arrived and checked the damage of the ship. They assured all help and went away.

“However on 13th February the weather further deteriorated and Indonesian authorities did not arrive because of it. By this time, the vessel started to sink further. It was on 17th February that we decided to abandon the vessel by getting off on two lifeboats. There were a total of 20 seafarers on board and we all reached the safety of the coast on lifeboats.

“Currently, more than 80 per cent of the ship is submerged.”

Salam while appreciating the officials’ help, added, “The Indonesian navy and coast guard received us and provided us with immediate medical attention. Later, the Indonesian authorities began the investigation.

“On 24th February, our 17 crew members were allowed to go home and we three were asked to stay back to complete the investigation. Our passports were confiscated by Indonesia’s immigration department and the harbour master has kept all the vessel-related documents. The Indonesian authorities have completed their investigation, yet we are stuck here.”

To make matters worse the crew have not received salary for the last four months.

The All India Seafarer and General Workers Union has dubbed the seafarers’ situation as a serious violation of the tenets of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and Human Rights. The union has said that Indonesian authorities have no legal right to hold the seafarers, who have nothing to do with the ship’s wreckage.

Mr Abhijeet Sangle, working President of All India Seafarer and General Workers Union informed, “The issue of accident and spillage is between the company and Indonesian authorities. It is the responsibility and liability of the owner and Protection and Indemnity (P&I) Club of the vessel to compensate the damages caused by the grounding of the vessel.”

According to Mr Sangle, “The Indonesian government is illegally holding the three Indians hostage, demanding ransom from the owner of the ship to cover the cost of clearing the shipwreck on the beach.”

He added, “The Indonesian authorities conducted a thorough investigation in the matter and these Indian seafarers, who cooperated fully in the probe, have been found innocent. Yet, they have been held hostage because the Indonesian authorities are yet to be paid by the company for the environmental damage. The Indonesian authorities have illegally kept these Indian seafarers hostage for over 7 months now.”

The Indian officials said they had been following the matter and pursuing them seriously with the Indonesian government but the remedial course of action is yet to yield results.

The Embassy of India in Jakarta and the Consulate General of India in Medan are making the best efforts and have been coordinating with concerned authorities for early repatriation of the three crewmembers to India.

-Marex Media