Cannot hold 25 sailors to ransom, says seafarers’ union

Cannot hold 25 sailors to ransom, says seafarers’ union
Ch Sushil Rao | Apr 11, 2021 https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/cannot-hold-25-sailor...

HYDERABAD: As investigation into the Suez Canal incident involving ‘Ever Given’ by Suez Canal Authority (SCA) in Egypt continues, National Union of Seafarers of India (NUSI) said that the 25 Indian seafarers on board cannot be held to ransom if there was a delay in settling the issue of losses with ship owners or others concerned.
“We would neither like to get involved or interfere in the investigations nor do we want to prejudice the investigation. But, we will certainly react and respond to a situation if Indian seafarers need to be assisted,” NUSI general secretary-cum-treasurer Abdulgani Serang told STOI. He said this is not a piracy situation and seafarers cannot be held to ransom. “If the SCA has suffered losses, they can sort it out with those involved with the ship but that cannot haul up seafarers in any manner,” Serang said.

SCA chairman Admiral Osama Rabie and advisor Sayed Sheashya, who are heading the committee to investigate the reasons for the giant container ship running aground, have estimated revenue losses at $1 billion as Ever Given was stuck in the canal for six days. SCA is in talks with the shipping company but said if the issue was not resolved amicably, it could lead to a civil dispute.
Ever Given ran aground on March 23 and was refloated on March 29. The ship was then taken to the Great Bitter Lake in the Suez Canal area where an investigation is being conducted. The crew have been on board the ship since then with an additional captain, also from India, joining them aboard on April 4.

Serang said he had a conversation with the master of the ship but it was only for a short while. “I assured him that we will stand by the seafarers and would extend all support required,” he said. Serang said the seafarers were relaxed.