India Maintains Contact with Russian Embassy Over Crew of Detained Unity Tanker: MEA
MEA says coordination with Moscow is continuing as court proceedings and maritime authorities address the crew’s repatriation and unpaid dues.
New Delhi: India is maintaining regular communication with the Russian Embassy over the welfare and repatriation of Russian seafarers aboard the detained oil tanker Unity near Paradip Port in Odisha, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the Cameroon-flagged vessel is currently anchored near Paradip and was detained following an order issued by the Odisha High Court.
“On the welfare of the Russian seafarers, this particular oil tanker is stationed close to Paradip Port in Odisha. We are aware of this particular incident, and we have been in regular touch with the Russian Embassy here,” Jaiswal said during the ministry’s weekly media briefing in New Delhi.
He added that the detention was carried out in accordance with the High Court’s directions and that the authorities were taking necessary steps regarding the repatriation of the crew.
The Unity has remained under detention since May in connection with a commercial dispute involving alleged unpaid bunker fuel charges. The tanker is anchored approximately 10 kilometres off the Paradip coast after arriving at the port to discharge Russian crude oil for Indian Oil Corporation.
The case has also been recorded by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and International Maritime Organisation (IMO) joint database on abandoned seafarers. The database identifies the vessel as an abandonment case involving Russian crew members, with unpaid wages and repatriation listed among the outstanding issues.
A July 16 communication from the Russian Consulate General in Kolkata, cited in the database, stated that the employment contracts of the Russian seafarers had expired. It also noted that significant wage arrears remained unpaid and that the crew had continued to stay aboard the vessel beyond their contractual period while awaiting arrangements to return home.
The Russian Consulate estimated that the tanker had 23 crew members, comprising 20 Russian nationals, one Kazakh citizen and two Egyptian nationals.
A further court hearing concerning the repatriation of the seafarers has been scheduled for September 21. The Russian Consulate has called for the crew assistance and repatriation process to be completed at the earliest and has sought support from Indian maritime authorities.
It has also approached the Directorate General of Shipping and the Mercantile Marine Department in Kolkata for necessary assistance in facilitating the early return of the Russian nationals and securing payment of their outstanding wages.
The ILO has established guidelines for handling cases involving abandoned seafarers, calling for coordination among port States, flag States and the countries of the affected seafarers to protect their welfare and rights.
The joint database further records that the IMO sent an urgent communication on July 16 to relevant member States, requesting appropriate action in connection with the case.
The detention of the Unity stems from a dispute over bunker fuel payments. The vessel’s legal status and the crew’s repatriation are now being addressed through the relevant judicial and maritime authorities.
