The Indian Consul General in Dubai has managed to rescue six Indian crew members of the UAE-flagged tanker MT IBA, who were left stranded on the vessel without salary and sufficient food. Nearly 100 Indians are working for 22 such vessels that are standing in UAE waters.
Some of these Indian sailors, lead by Anoop Pathak, a seafarer onboard MV Salem, had sought the help from the Indian Government following which External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj directed the Indian Consulate General in Dubai to intervene.
The Indian CG office in Dubai approached UAE Government for help and even lodged complaint against the recruiting agent and the owner of the ship. The Indian Consulate had also contacted the owners and agents for settlement of the dues, provision of food, water and fuel, request for sign off.
The first batch of six seafarers returned to India after the sign off. These sailors were facing outstanding salary, non-availability of food, lack of fresh water and medical facilities. In the past too the Indian CG in Dubai has helped repatriate 36 sailors from six ships — MV Gulf Pearl, MV Ayah, Enjaz 2, MV Salem, MVRock and Al Hamad 1.
According to a report released by Human Rights at Sea (HRAS), the crew members aboard MT IBA, owned by Alco Shipping Services, had their basic human rights breached. “The seafarers, comprising nine Indian, three Pakistani, one Sri lankan and one Myanmarian national, have been deprived of liberty, lack protection of their health and bodily integrity, lack protection of their right to life, and lack family life due to their enforced retention on the MT IBA,” the report said.
HRAS added that the crew are currently stranded on an unsafe vessel, anchored off the coast of UAE. Their safety has allegedly been compromised by the provision of unfit Personal Protective Equipment, and they have repeatedly been left without fresh food or fresh water. Additionally, for the last six months the crew allegedly have been denied access to medical treatment and have been without pay during the same period.