Eight Indian seafarers, who survived a missile attack on the oil tanker Sky Light near Oman’s Khasab port on March 1, returned to Mumbai on March 18. The crew, primarily in their early 20s and on their first maritime assignment, lost all their belongings, including passports and cash, in the fire that followed the attack. They faced uncertainty regarding documentation and compensation upon their return amid the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict.
The survivors, hailing from West Bengal, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Andhra Pradesh, described the harrowing moments of the attack, which occurred around 7:05 AM. With no clear escape route, they jumped into the ocean to save themselves. Rescued shortly after by an Omani army boat, they were hospitalized for injuries while others recorded their statements at a police station. Tragically, the vessel’s captain was killed, and another crew member remains missing.
After being stranded in Oman for over a week due to the destruction of their travel documents, they were issued emergency passes to return home. Upon arrival in Mumbai, they were required to complete formalities but expressed confusion over the implications of signing off on their contracts. The Directorate General of Shipping has promised assistance in obtaining lost documents and assessing compensation on a case-by-case basis.
The trauma from the incident continues to affect the survivors, who now contemplate leaving the profession altogether. They expressed a desire to return to their villages and families, emphasizing the importance of safety over financial gain. One crew member poignantly remarked, “What is the point of such a job, leaving our parents behind, when there is no guarantee of life?” Their experiences have left them yearning for stability and a return to normalcy.
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