Seven Indian crew members return home after 11 months stuck on Abu Dhabi tanker

Seven Indian mariners have been repatriated after an 11-month ordeal aboard the oil products tanker MV Sea Star 2, which was moored at Mina Zayed Port in Abu Dhabi. The Federal Seafarers Union of India (FSUI) warned that the crew's travel documents were allegedly seized and that five of the sailors had gone without pay throughout the period. A Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, reiterated that the welfare and safety of India’s seafaring community is a high priority and that the government raises such issues with the appropriate authorities.

The case has drawn attention to broader worries about Indian seafarers operating in regions affected by the Iran conflict. While the seven crew members have returned home, negotiations are ongoing to bring back the remaining sailors still held on the vessel. The incident underscores ongoing challenges faced by migrant workers in the maritime sector.