India Secures Release of Oil Tanker and 26 Crew After Months of Negotiations

New Delhi: After extensive negotiations, India successfully secured the release of the oil tanker MT Heroic Idun and its 26 crew members, including 16 Indians. The vessel was detained since August 2022, initially in Equatorial Guinea and later in Nigeria.

All charges against the crew were dropped, and the ship was released on May 27 after paying fines. Sources have confirmed that the Indian crew have safely returned to India.

The accusations against the ship and its crew ranged from oil theft to falsely accusing the Nigerian Navy of piracy. In response, India, through its Missions in Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria, actively engaged with the foreign authorities at various levels. They consistently pressed for an early resolution of the matter and the repatriation of the Indian crew members.

Through their interventions with the Nigerian government, the Indian government successfully secured permission for the crew to remain on board the ship, ensuring they were provided with regular food instead of being taken to a detention centre on land. The crew members were also granted periodic contact with their families. Indian Mission officials maintained regular communication with the crew and conducted consular access on numerous occasions to ensure their well-being.

Furthermore, the Indian Mission collaborated with the shipping company to arrange legal representation for the crew. They emphasised to the Nigerian authorities that no oil theft had occurred, asserting that necessary permissions had been obtained and that the crew members were unaware of the operational decisions. The Indian side also highlighted the humanitarian issues faced by some of the crew members.