16 Indian crew members of cargo vessel Oil tanker MT Heroic Idun return to India after over 9 months of detention in Africa

Sixteen Indian crew members of cargo vessel Oil tanker MT Heroic Idun who were in detention for over nine months in Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria have returned to India after Government's negotiations with Nigerian authorities. Official sources yesterday said that 26 crew members of the cargo vessel including 16 Indians were in detention since August last year. 

They were detained in Equatorial Guinea and later in Nigeria and were accused of various crimes including oil theft. Official sources said, after lengthy negotiations, all charges against the crew were dropped and the ship was released on 27th of last month after paying the fines. Indian Mission officials remained in regular touch with the crew and undertook consular access on numerous occasions.

Government of India through its missions in Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria and in bilateral



meetings took up the matter with the foreign authorities at various levels. The sources said, they were pressed for early resolution of the issue and repatriation of the Indian crew members. 

After interventions with the Nigerian Government, the crew was allowed to remain on board the ship with the provision of regular food, instead of being taken to a detention centre on land. They were also allowed periodic contact with their families. The Indian Mission worked with the shipping company for legal representation to be arranged for the crew. 

The Nigerian authorities were informed that there had been no oil theft, necessary permissions had apparently been accorded and that the crew was not privy to the decisions of operations. Humanitarian issues of some of the crew members were also highlighted.