14 Indians stuck off UAE port without food for 4 months seek rescue

The all-Indian crew of MT Beta mostly eat limited portions of plain rice cooked by burning blocks of wood since they are almost out of fuel

A group of 14 Indians are reportedly stuck on four merchant vessels anchored in the Gulf of Oman, United Arab Emirates, for the last four months. The vessels, reportedly all oil tankers, are just 32 nautical miles (around 59 km) from the port of Khor Fakkan, Fujairah, UAE. They were supposed to set off from the Emirati town for undisclosed locations in early June. Not only has the crew, comprising only Indians, allegedly not been paid since being recruited, but it has also begun to run low on ration and fuel.

With generators off, the vessel is kept in ‘blackout' condition

Sixteen crew members were recruited on a nine-month contract by a Mumbai-based crew manning agency, Abhay Shipping Pvt Ltd, for four Aframax vessels - MT (motor tanker) Beta (7 Indians), MT Cityelite (7), MT AL Nouf (2), MT Laowadale (2) - and departed from Mumbai for Dubai on June 8. From Dubai, they were sent to Fujairah to board the vessels. All four anchored vessels are in close proximity of each other.

As per the practice in the shipping industry, the destinations of ships are reportedly known only to managers and owners.

Provisions running out
In their efforts to be rescued and get paid, the crew of MT Beta sent a letter last week to the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF). The ITF represents over 4.5 million transport workers from 150 countries and around 700 unions, and ensures safe vessels and decent working conditions for seafarers.

The crew sometimes eats just plain rice that it cooks by burning blocks of wood as it has begun to run out of fuel

The letter stated that the ship is running out of provisions - fresh water, medicines and food - and that safety and life-saving equipment have either expired or are absent.

CP Singh, the second officer of MT Beta (who is the third in the command chain after the captain and the first officer) is in charge of the vessel. The manager, with whom the second officer is said to be in contact, has assured the crew repeatedly that help is on its way, but has allegedly done little else.

Singh told mid-day that MT Beta has provisions for only the next two weeks. "We are running low on fuel. The generators are being run for just a few hours every day and the vessel is kept in a ‘blackout' condition (an emergency procedure)." He said written complaints have been sent to the ITF, UK, Directorate General (DG) of Shipping, Mumbai, the Indian Embassy in the UAE, the UAE labour ministry, and Khor Fakkan port authorities. "We are still waiting for help."

Illegally hired?
The Indians' recruitment allegedly wasn't aboveboard. According to Manoj Yadav, secretary of Forward Seamen's Union of India, Abhay Shipping Pvt Ltd doesn't have the requisite registration and placement service license (RPSL) to hire sailors. It is mandatory for all manning shipping companies to have a DG-approved RPSL number. "Despite not having the RPSL, the company is still recruiting. We are in touch with MT Beta and the other three vessels. We have approached DG Shipping and other competent authorities to look into this issue and bring the Indians back," said Yadav.

Fuel is fast depleting. It is only used to fire up the generator to run the fans

He said the RPSL is akin to a bank guarantee given to DG Shipping by a recruiting agent. In case, a seamen gets stuck or dies on board a vessel, that money can be used to get him back. "It is a mandatory recruitment licence. The only option left before DG Shipping is to file a criminal case against the agent and to rescue the crew members via the Embassy."

No wrongdoing: Recruiter
Abhay Pandey, owner of Abhay Shipping Pvt Ltd, admitted to mid-day that he doesn't have an RPSL. "But I have other mandatory licenses. I have ISO 9001 (the international standard on quality management systems) compliance and an IRS (Indian Register of Shipping) licence. I can supply manpower. I just don't have the RPSL," he said.
The IRS determines compliance under the international ship and port facility security (ISPS) code for Indian flagships and port facilities.

Pandey claimed that the lack of an RPSL doesn't take away the company's recruitment powers. Of the 16 Indians who were sent to Fujairah, two have been called back, he said. "We are making arrangements to get back the remaining crew."

He said DG Shipping and other authorities concerned are already apprised of the company running without an RPSL.