Seven Indian seafarers stranded aboard the oil products tanker MV Sea Star 2 at Mina Zayed Port in Abu Dhabi have been successfully repatriated, the Indian Embassy in the United Arab Emirates has confirmed. The development comes after months of uncertainty surrounding the welfare and repatriation of the crew.
The Indian Embassy said it is continuing to coordinate with local authorities to ensure the safe and early return of the remaining Indian seafarers still associated with the vessel. The mission has been closely monitoring the situation and providing assistance as efforts progress.
The case gained wider attention after the Federation of Seafarers’ Unions of India (FSUI) raised an urgent appeal over the prolonged stranding of the crew at Mina Zayed Port. According to the union, the seafarers had remained stranded for around 11 months without proper relief.
FSUI also alleged that some of the remaining crew members had not received wages for five months. The union further claimed that visa and travel expenses had been deducted from earlier payments and that important travel documents were under the control of port authorities. The organisation called for immediate intervention to secure the pending wages and facilitate the repatriation of the remaining seafarers.
The appeal was directed to several authorities, including the Ministry of External Affairs, the Directorate General of Shipping, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and the International Transport Workers’ Federation.
The Indian Embassy’s confirmation of the seven repatriations marks a significant development in the case. However, the situation remains unresolved for the remaining crew members, with diplomatic and local-level efforts continuing to secure their safe return.
The development also comes amid broader concerns over the safety and welfare of Indian seafarers operating in high-risk maritime regions. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal has reiterated that the safety and welfare of India’s seafaring community remains a high priority for the government and that concerns involving Indian sailors are raised with the relevant authorities.
The MV Sea Star 2 case highlights the challenges faced by seafarers when commercial, wage and repatriation disputes leave crews stranded for extended periods. With seven sailors now back home, attention is turning to the remaining crew and efforts to resolve their outstanding issues and facilitate their return to India.