Forward Seamen’s Union Urges PM Modi to Rescue 23,000 Indians
The Forward Seamen’s Union of India has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to raise concerns over Indian seafarers stranded in conflict-affected waters in West Asia, seeking urgent action to facilitate their rescue.
Manoj Yadav, General Secretary of the union, told ANI that a significant number of Indian crew members remain stuck on vessels in the region. “We have a total of 22 Indian ships stranded in the conflict area, and there are also Iranian and foreign ships with Indian crew members on board. Around 23,000 Indian seafarers are stuck in the conflict zone, with only a few rescued so far. The rest are still stranded,” he said.
Stranded Seafarers Face Critical Food Shortages
He added that the union has been in contact with some of these seafarers, who have appealed for immediate rescue. “The Forward Seamen’s Union of India has contacted some Indian seafarers, who are urging for immediate rescue. We’ve written two letters to PM Modi regarding this issue. While some seafarers have been safely brought back to India, many more are still stranded on ships in Iranian and Israeli waters,” Yadav stated.
The union official also highlighted concerns about the conditions aboard these vessels, mentioning limited food supplies. “The ships have only about a month’s worth of food supplies left, which is running critically low. The Indian seafarers on Iranian ships are unsure whether the attacks are from Iran or Israel,” he explained.
LPG Carriers Arrive in India Amid Crisis
In related developments, the Indian LPG carrier Nanda Devi arrived at the Vadinar port in Gujarat’s Jamnagar, carrying 46,500 metric tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for ship-to-ship transfer at anchorage. The transfer from the mother vessel MT Nanda Devi to the daughter vessel MT BW Birch commenced on Tuesday. Sushil Kumar Singh, Chairman of the Deendayal Port Authority, boarded the vessel to facilitate operations and engaged with the captain and crew.
This is the second LPG carrier to arrive in India after safely traversing the Strait of Hormuz. On Monday evening, the Indian carrier LPG Shivalik, carrying 46,000 metric tonnes of LPG, reached Mudra Port. Of this cargo, 20,000 metric tonnes are to be unloaded at Mundra, with the remainder scheduled for Mangalore.
Indian Navy and Shipping Corporation Assist in Strait Crossing
The Chief Officer of the Nanda Devi noted that the operation was initiated by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and the Shipping Corporation of India, with assistance from the Indian and Iranian navies to cross the Strait of Hormuz. He said, “I would like to thank everyone who was involved in this operation of crossing the Strait of Hormuz. The initiative was taken by the Indian Ministry, Shipping Corporation of India, with the help of the Indian Navy and the Iranian Navy. Vessel transmitted the Hormuz safely, now it is enroute to Kandla, Gujarat and will be serving a huge amount of LPG, 46,000 metric tonnes. This will help in the worldwide crisis of LPG. We will continue to serve the LPG in future also.”
Shipping Ministry Reports No Incidents in Past 24 Hours
Additionally, Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Special Secretary in the Shipping Ministry, said during an interministerial briefing on Monday that the Indian-flagged vessel Jag Laadki, which sailed from the UAE carrying approximately 81,000 tonnes of Murban crude oil, is safely en route to India.
He further added that all Indian seafarers in the Persian Gulf area remain safe and that no incidents have been reported in the past 24 hours. Currently, 22 Indian-flagged vessels remain in the Persian Gulf, carrying a total of 611 seafarers.
Original Article: Forward Seamen’s Union Urges PM Modi to Rescue 23,000 Indians — Thenewsmill