Indian Seafarer Stranded Alone in Iran Without Passport and CDC
Akshay Harish, a young merchant seafarer from Prakkulam in Kollam, Kerala, has been left stranded alone on his ship at Chabahar, a port on Iran’s south-eastern coast facing the Gulf of Oman, after his passport and Continuous Discharge Certificate (CDC) went missing. Indian Embassy officials are due to meet him in person to issue temporary travel documents, ANI reported on 11 November.
Akshay joined the ship in Japan on 5 December 2025 through a recruiting agency in Palakkad, on what he understood was a contract of about 35 days. When the ship reached Iran, the regional war broke out. The ship could not sail to Dubai or Oman and instead traded to other ports in the region.
From the CrewMirror Blog
On a later voyage, port authorities in another country seized the passports and CDCs of crew members, including the captain and chief engineer, over problems with the captain’s certificates, and fined the ship. After the fines were paid, the ship returned to Iran, but the documents went missing from the captain’s custody. Akshay alleges that the senior officers’ certificates were fake and says unpaid wages led him to protest on board for nearly a month.
The Iranian captain and chief engineer later left the ship, and six Myanmar crew members were repatriated through their embassy, leaving him alone on board. His family appealed to political leaders in Kerala and at the Centre, and the case was also raised with Iran’s Ambassador. The family has thanked everyone who helped.
CrewMirror Takeaway
Seafarers should join ships only through DGMA-approved RPS agencies and verify the ship, flag and contract before travelling. Indian seafarers in trouble abroad can reach DGMA’s e-Navik helpline and the nearest Indian mission, and should never hand over their passport or CDC without a written receipt.
