Bombay High Court Orders Release of Stranded Seafarers Off Mumbai Coast
HC orders release of 50 seafarers stranded on 3 ships off Mumbai coast for 3 months
Hindustan Times
Image: Hindustan Times
The Bombay High Court has ordered the release of approximately 50 Indian seafarers stranded on three ships off the coast of Mumbai since early February. The court criticized the ship owners for neglecting the crew's basic needs and highlighted the dire conditions they faced, including limited food and water supply.
- 01The Bombay High Court intervened after seafarers faced extreme conditions for over three months.
- 02The court condemned the ship owners for prioritizing profits over the crew's welfare.
- 03Seafarers reported surviving on minimal water and food, leading to health issues.
- 04The court emphasized that adults cannot be forced to return to the ships against their will.
- 05The seafarers expressed relief at their release and shared their harrowing experiences.
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On Tuesday, the Bombay High Court in Mumbai ordered the release of around 50 Indian seafarers who had been stranded on three ships—MT Asphalt Star, MT Stellar Ruby, and MT Al Jafzia—since February 4. The court criticized the ship owners for neglecting the crew's basic needs, noting that they had been surviving on only 300 ml of water per day and minimal food. The Indian Coast Guard had intercepted the ships for allegedly engaging in unauthorized ship-to-ship transfer operations, after which the owners abandoned the vessels, leaving the crew in dire conditions. A habeas corpus petition filed by seven seafarers highlighted the extreme and dehumanizing conditions, with claims of cruel treatment due to lack of food and potable water. During the court session, the seafarers expressed their refusal to return to the ships, prompting the court to order their immediate release. The court stated that it cannot hold adults against their will and directed local police to facilitate their release. The seafarers shared their harrowing experiences, including using seawater for consumption and cooking with limited resources, leading to health issues among the crew. They expressed relief at the court's decision, which granted them freedom after months of suffering.
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The court's ruling provides immediate relief to the stranded seafarers, allowing them to return to their families and recover from the traumatic experience.
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