UK Detains Indian Captain of Russian ‘Shadow Fleet’ Tanker for Sanctions Breach
The British authorities detained Ajay Pant from the MV Smyrtos on June 14 for allegedly breaching sanctions imposed on Russian oil.
Pant’s appeal will be heard on Thursday, after his earlier bail plea was denied due to concerns that he could receive Russian help to abscond or flee. The 38-year-old father-of-two is from the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand and is the primary caregiver for his elderly parents.
International Seafaring Unions Criticize Detention
The detention of Pant, the captain of a ship in international waters, has drawn fierce criticism from international seafaring unions. Experts argue that this sets a worrying precedent, as it could lead to the detention of other seafarers who may not even be aware that their ships are carrying sanctioned oil.
Steve Yandell, coordinator of the seafarers’ section of the International Transport Workers’ Federation, stated that “seafarers will often not know that their ship might be carrying sanctioned oil, and that they’re potentially open to getting caught up in a geopolitical conflict.”
Indian Government Steps Up Diplomatic Efforts
India has stepped up diplomatic efforts to help Pant. The Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said that the High Commission has paid several visits to Captain Pant to check on his well-being and facilitated the visit of his family members, including his wife.
The vessel’s owner is Hong Kong-based Zhao Yao Shipping, with Chennai-based Vika Line Marine Services serving as its international safety manager. Most of the ship’s 24-member crew had returned to their home countries by August, while some are still on the Smyrtos, which is anchored off the coast of Weymouth and Portland in Dorset, England.
Concerns for Indian Seafarers
The development is especially concerning for India, which has an estimated 320,000 seafarers working on ships across the globe. The Forward Seamen’s Union of India has demanded a faster trial, stating that it is a minimum requirement of international unions that there should be a fast trial court for such cases when a foreign seafarer is detained in a third country.
A trial that could last four weeks has been reportedly scheduled for December 15.
Original Article: Indian captain of Russian ‘shadow fleet’ tanker faces 10-year jail term in UK — Bignewsnetwork