Iran's Revolutionary Guards captured British oil tanker Stena Impero in the Strait of Hormuz on 19 July after alleged accident with the Iranian fishing boat. The tanker has 23 crew members onboard, out of which 18 are Indian and the rest are of Russian, Latvian and Filipino nationality. Tension between Iran and the UK spiralled after Britain seized Grace 1, an Iranian super tanker, in Gibraltar of violating European sanctions by taking oil to Syria, a charge Tehran denies. India's Minister of State for External Affairs, V Muraleedharan, has said that they are working to get the crew released. Consular access to the 18 Indian sailors was sought on July 20.
The owner of Stena Impero, has appealed Prime Minister Narendra Modi to personally intervene to seek the release of the vessel. In a letter to the prime minister, Stena Bulk's chief executive and president Erik Hanell said while the seafarers are proud professionals, "they are becoming increasingly concerned about their fate and their families, increasingly worried about the continued detention of their loved ones, particularly as they are guilty of no crime." He added that Stena Impero and the crew acted in a professional manner and broke no rules or regulations whether local or international.
Clearly, the families are petrified by the whole incident and are worried about the well being of their kin abducted by the Iranian officials. All their hopes are rested on the Indian Ministry of External Affairs who can put pressure on Iran to release the crew members. “My husband Chief Officer Abhishek Bonerjee is one of the crew members of Steno Impero which was seized by Iran,” said Almas Mirza who was deeply concerned about the well being of her husband and rest of the crew members. Almas who is in direct contact with the Indian embassy in Tehran said the officials are attempting to free the Indians stuck in the dispute but no concrete plans seem to be in place. “As very little progress is being made since the vessel was seized, I urge governments involved in the matter to find a swift resolution so that all the 23 seafarers can return to their families,” she added.
Almas said that her husband and rest of the crew is allowed to talk to their family daily for few minutes and are moved to the ship but are not allowed to work. However, initial days were quite intimidating for everyone. “They are treated well and are ‘doing fine’ as per the statement given by the foreign ministry officials but we are concerned as earlier there were 16 armed guards and now they have 20 armed guards on board. I just hope they return home soon.”
“It was a retaliatory action by Iran and the ship has been captured just because it is British flagged. The ship is registered in Britain and follows British laws but the owner of the ship is Swedish. The crew is confined on the vessel for no fault at all,” said Captain Birsha Haldar, a close friend of Abhishek.
Birsha said the Indian ministry should directly intervene and pressurise Iran to release the sailors. “So far I think requests have been made according to the diplomatic protocol. Unless and until a high level intervention by the external ministry is done, the matter will keep on lingering,” he said. He also urged the British government to intervene to assure the safety of the crew members as the ship abides by the British laws. Reportedly Britain may facilitate the release of the detained Grace I, which makes us hopeful of Iran's gracious reciprocity.
