Strap : Legal battle, diplomatic efforts yield results 

Ten Indian seafarers who were arrested in Iran on charges of diesel smuggling last July have been released and will be reunited with their families, the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) said today.

The seafarers were working on Palau Island flagged tanker M V Harbour Phoenix that was detained by Iranian Navy near Jask port. While seven of them were jailed by a trial court, three crew members including the master (captain) were allowed to remain on the ship.

Totally there were seventeen crew members on board of vessel managed by Dubai based Hellenic Ship Management. 

The accused crew members moved against their conviction before a provincial court of appeal which overturned trial court order. The crew members argued that the vessel had not sailed to any Iranian port in its current voyage and their presence at the site of their detention was due to technical fault in the vessel.

On its part the Indian government engaged with Iranian authorities to secure their release. Organisations like Human Rights at Sea also took up the issue of detention.

In a statement DGS said the matter was closely monitored by Ministry of Port, Shipping and Waterways, the Ministry of External Affairs and the Embassy of India in Tehran.

“Several diplomatic communications and formal representations were made to the concerned Iranian authorities seeking consular access, welfare intervention, and expeditious resolution of the matter,” it said. “ All Indian seafarers have now been released and have rejoined the vessel. Necessary arrangements are being coordinated for their earliest return to India,” the DGS said.

Published on May 27, 2026