Bulker Crewmembers Stage Protest in India Over Year-Long Detention

The 21 crewmembers of the bulker Debi, detained for a year on charges of drug smuggling, have staged a protest to draw attention to their situation. Managed by Asia Pacific Shipping Co. of Hanoi, Vietnam, the vessel has been detained since December 2023 and officially placed under arrest in February 2024. The crew demands action from Indian authorities to resolve their plight. The ship, loaded with steel plates bound for Denmark, made a stopover at Paradip Port in India, where 22 kg of cocaine worth $26 million was found hidden in the ship’s cranes.

Indian authorities are investigating the drug smuggling incident on the Debi to determine when the drugs were loaded and if any crewmembers were involved. The Panama-registered vessel has been held at dock or in the port’s anchorage. Crewmembers refused to work the vessel, staging a sit-in protest while the ship was unable to return to the anchorage. Efforts to resolve the issue through talks have been initiated by port authorities, with the ship currently berthed at the Paradip International Cargo Terminal.

In a separate incident, one of the vessel’s engineers jumped overboard in January 2024 during an altercation, with speculation of a suicide attempt. The crew has faced additional challenges as Indian authorities confiscated their communication devices, leaving them isolated from family in Vietnam. The crew’s plight continues as they await resolution of their situation.

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