THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Days after the 41 Indian sailors stranded in leaking ships in UAE’s Ajman port sent SOS messages seeking help to save their lives, the Indian Consulate General in UAE has intervened raising hopes of their rescue. The sailors on board the four vessels - two of them MT Enjaz I and MV Salem - include those from Tirunelveli, Lakshadweep and Pondicherry.
The vessel MT Enjaz I has a total of 15 crew members of which U Amanulla is a native of Lakshadweep islands. The vessel MV Salem has seven crew members. Some of the crew have not been paid salaries for many months. The owner had seized their passports and was said to be untraceable. They had raised the issue with Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.
Following the minister’s intervention, the Indian Consulate General in Dubai has taken up the issue with the UAE authorities including port officials at Sharjah and Ajman. In a press statement, the consulate said it has “established contact with the captains of two vessels and confirmed that sufficient stock of fuel, food and water is available, which could last for a couple of weeks. The crew has requested for pending salaries and release from duty.”
The Consulate also got in touch with the sponsor and sought his assistance for settlement of issues with the crew. “It is hoped that an amicable solution will be forthcoming at the earliest with the cooperation of all parties involved ,including the local authorities,” the statement said. The Consulate will pursue the matter keeping in view the best interest of the Indian sailors, added officials.Meanwhile the Indian chapter of the Sailors Society has welcomed the steps taken by Union External Affairs Minister to rescue the sailors stranded in the UAE. “The society has been in touch with the relatives and families of the stranded sailors. We have been giving medical assistance to the sailors’ families,” said Manoj Joy of Sailors’ Society.