Nine Indian crew members are heading home four months after they were taken hostage in Libya.
The seafarers were captured by a local militia when their 1,200-dwt product tanker Maya 1 (built 1991) broke down off the coast in February.
News 18 cited India’s ambassador to Tunisia, Ngulkham Jathom Gangte, as saying the group had now freed the crew.
The ambassador added that the release was secured with the help of the principal of the Indian school in Benghazi, Tabassum Mansoor.
India’s external affairs minister confirmed the release.
The fate of the tanker is not clear, with the last AIS update showing it off Tripoli in January.
The Indian embassy in Tunis learned of the seafarers’ capture in mid-February.
The Cameroon-flagged tanker was sailing from Malta to Tripoli carrying oil products.
Indian authorities had sought consular access and took steps to ensure the safety and eventual repatriation of the crew members.
Sources told News 18 that informal contact was maintained each week with the group, allowing for the supply of food and other essential items.
Taken to Tunisia
The crew members were received by Gangte in Tunisia as preparations were made to fly them back to India.
The vessel’s ultimate ownership is unknown, along with its class society and insurer.
The technical manager is listed as Greenoil Trading of India, according to Clarksons, while the registered owner is Redwing Shipping SA.
The tanker was detained for 31 days with 28 deficiencies in Malta in January 2021.
Grounds for detention included an inoperative gyrocompass, echo sounder, bridge navigation watch alarm system and oil filtering equipment, as well as expired life rafts and a faulty fire alarm.
