Even as the mortal remains of Patnala Suresh (44), the chief engineer who was killed in a strike on the Palau-flagged oil tanker MT Settebello off the Oman coast on June 10, are yet to be repatriated to Visakhapatnam, his family is facing a complex financial battle for compensation.

Suresh’s wife, Bhargavi, along with two sons aged 13 and 10, is dealing not only with intense grief but also the uncertainty regarding the ship’s insurance policies, including the Protection & Indemnity (P&I) Insurance.

“I am totally in the dark about how these international shipping protections work. I did not even know P&I coverage existed. I am definitely going to raise this issue with the ship’s management. I am seeking the local government’s support to guide me through this,” Ms. Bhargavi told The Hindu.

Does MT Settebello have insurance coverage?

Merchant ships take two kinds of insurance: one to protect against damages to hull and machinery and the other, called P&I insurance, to cover for loss of life, damage to environment and so on. P&I insurance is provided by mutual clubs of shipowners to cover third-party liabilities, which explicitly includes the injury or death of seafarers on board. The compensation runs to several thousands of dollars and depends on the contract signed by the member of the crew with the ship owner or manager.

Maritime legal records indicate that despite the geopolitical controversies surrounding the vessel’s journey—which led to the targeted strike by external forces—commercial vessels such as MT Settebello are legally mandated to carry P&I insurance. Typically, in case of sanctions by the U.S., P&I clubs withdraw their insurance. But Settebello’s P&I insurance remains fundamentally active to fulfil basic crew liabilities under standard maritime employment contracts.

What the family must do

For a grieving family, navigating international maritime law can be intimidating. Legal experts outline the necessary legal path forward.

Speaking to The Hindu from Dubai, a maritime legal consultant, who regularly handles complex shipping liabilities and insurance disputes, explained, “The family must immediately secure Suresh’s original crew agreement or employment contract. This document details the exact compensation benchmarks, war-zone clauses, and specific death-benefit provisions. A specialised death certificate must be issued by the flag state (Palau) and formally authenticated by the Indian Embassy in Oman. This document is mandatory to initiate the formal P&I club claim settlement process.”

The family should formally route their insurance claim through the local seamen’s welfare authorities and the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) office in India. This step prevents the family from being isolated or stonewalled by overseas entities, he said.

“P&I insurance is the ultimate financial backbone for a seafarer’s family during war-like or hostile zone casualties. Under standard maritime labour conventions, even if a vessel enters a high-risk zone under disputed circumstances, the owner’s liability toward crew compensation remains absolute,” he added.