India in Contact with UK Over Jailed Indian Captain Ajay Pant
India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on 10 November in New Delhi that it is in touch with the UK High Commission and the UK Foreign Office over Captain Ajay Pant, an Indian merchant navy master held in the UK. He is in judicial custody at HMP Winchester, in Hampshire, southern England.
Captain Pant, from Uttarakhand, was in command of the crude oil tanker Smyrtos when UK forces intercepted it in the English Channel in June. The tanker had sailed from Paradip, Odisha, in April and was carrying Russian oil. It is under Western sanctions as an alleged “shadow fleet” ship, and its flag registration had been in doubt.
From the CrewMirror Blog
He is the only one of 24 crew members charged, facing offences linked to UK sanctions on Russian oil that carry up to 10 years in prison. He denies wrongdoing, bail was refused, and his trial is expected to begin on 15 December.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the Indian High Commission in London is giving consular assistance, has visited him several times and helped his family visit, most recently his wife on 9 November. The ministry is also in contact with his lawyers. His wife Ritu Pant says he has been made a scapegoat. Seafarer groups have described the case as unusual, as it targets the master rather than the ship’s owners.
CrewMirror Takeaway
The case shows that masters, not only owners, can face personal criminal charges over sanctioned cargoes. Seafarers would be wise to check a ship’s sanctions status, flag validity and P&I cover before signing on, especially on older tankers with unclear ownership.
