Seven Indian seafarers repatriated from Abu Dhabi after 11 months stranded on MV Sea Star 2

Seven Indian seafarers stranded aboard the oil products tanker MV Sea Star 2 at Mina Zayed Port in Abu Dhabi have been repatriated, the Indian Embassy in the UAE said.

“The Embassy is closely following up with local authorities on the welfare and early repatriation of Indian seafarers stranded aboard SEA STAR 2. Seven seafarers have already been repatriated, and efforts are underway for the safe and early repatriation of the remaining seafarers,” the Embassy said, in a post on X.

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The development came after the Federation of Seafarers' Unions of India (FSUI) raised an urgent appeal over the crew's situation. The union said the seafarers had been stranded for 11 months without relief.

FSUI said the remaining crew members had not received wages for five months and alleged that the vessel's owner had deducted visa and travel expenses from earlier payments. It also said key travel documents were under the control of port authorities.

The union had urged the Ministry of External Affairs, Directorate General of Shipping, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, and International Transport Workers' Federation to intervene, seeking payment of pending wages and immediate repatriation of the remaining seafarers.

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