Lok Sabha Question No. 592 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-09
Subject: Status of Indian Crew Abroad
Ministry: PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
Asked by: Rahul Gandhi

## GOVERNMENT  OF INDIA I\iIINISTRY  OF PORTS,  SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO. 592

ANSWERED  ON 0911212022

## STATUS OF INDIAN CREW ABROAD

## 592, SHRI RAHUL GANDHI:

Will the Minister  of PORTS,  SHIPPING  AND WATERWAYS be pteased to state:

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- (a)  the current status  of the lndian crew abroad on the oil tanker l\4T heroic  ldun;
- (b) whether the Government has initiated  action to secure  the release of the lndian crew members,  if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the Government has extended  assistance  to the families of the detained crew members,
- (d) the details of lndian seafarers detained or  jailed  during the last four  years, country-wise;  and
- (e) whether the Government has taken action to assist the detainees and their families,  if so, the details  thereof?

## ANSWER

## IVIINISTER OF PORTS,  SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS (SHRI SARBANANDA  SONOWAL)

(a)  to (c) The 26 crew members including 16 tndian nationals are  presenfly under custody of Nigerian authorities aboard MT Heroicldunfrom l2thNovember, 2022. lndian Mission in Abuja has sought  assistance of the Nigerian  authoritaes  and through legal means for legal assistance for early release of the lndian crew members. The Mission has also extended consular  access to ensure  the safety and welfare of the detained lndian crew members.

The issue was raised by Hon'ble Home Minister of lndia during his bilateral meeting  in New Delhi with the lnterior lvlinister  of Nigeria on l SrhNovembet,  2022 and sought their early release. The next hearing at the Nigerian  Federal  High Court in Port Harcourt is on 1 0th-  1 2thJan  uary, 2023.

The Shipping Company has hired the services of an experienced lawyer, handling maritime  cases in Nigeria. The Shipping  company  has also hired a Shipping Agency  to cater to the day to day needs of the crew on the ship. The Government is also regularly  updating  the families of the seafarers  about  the present  position  of the case as well as the actions taken to expedite  the process.

- etrvsv\ (d) The details  of lndian seafarers  detained  or  jailed during the last four  years' country-wise,  is as under:
- (e) Yes sir. As mentioned in reply'a to c' above'

| S.No.   | Country           | 2018   | 2019   | 2020   | 2021   | 2022 (till date)   |
|---------|-------------------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------------------|
| 1       | Equatorial Guinea | Nil    | Nil    | Nil    | Nil    | 16                 |
| 2       | China             | Nil    | 2      | 22     | Nit    | Nil                |
| 3       | lvory Coast       | NIL    | NIL    | NIL    | 2      | NIL                |
| 4       | Egvpt             | Nir    | Nil    | Nil    | 25     | Nil                |
| 5       | lndonesia         | NIL    | 67     | NIL    | 67     | 17                 |
| 6       | lran              | 3'1    | 40     | 18     | I      | 12                 |
| 7       | Italy             | Nil    | Nil    | Nil    | Nil    | 3                  |
| 8       | | Mauritius  | Nil    | Nir    | 6      | Nil    | Nil                |
| I       | Nigeria           | 0      | 5      | 5      | 7      | 16                 |
| 10      | Qatar             | Nil    | Nil    | Nil    | 1      | Nil                |
| 11      | Romania           | Nil    | Nil    | Nil    | Nil    | Nil                |
| 12      | Senegal           | 0      | 0      | 0      | 4      | 0                  |
| 13      | Trinidad & Tobago | NIL    | NIL    | 17     | NIL    | NIL                |
| 14      | Tanzania          | Nil    | Nil    | Nil    | Nil    | 1                  |
| 15      | Yemen             | Nil    | Nil    | Nll    | Nil    | 7                  |