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.