Stranded at Sea: 50 Indian Seafarers Recall Months of Hunger, Thirst in Arabian Sea

Fifty Indian seafarers have recounted a harrowing ordeal of hunger, thirst, and isolation after being stranded in the Arabian Sea for nearly three months, surviving on minimal supplies until the Bombay High Court ordered their release earlier this week. The men, who were aboard three vessels off the Mumbai coast, faced extreme conditions with limited access to food, drinking water, and basic necessities, highlighting serious concerns about maritime safety and crew welfare.

The seafarers were finally brought ashore following the court’s intervention and arrived at the Yellow Gate Police Station to complete formalities. Eyewitness accounts described scenes of exhaustion and relief, as several crew members struggled to stand after prolonged deprivation while others immediately contacted their families after days of uncertainty. Despite their return to land, many remained physically weak and emotionally shaken by the experience.

Crew members detailed how food shortages forced them into desperate measures to survive. One officer, Vipul Shrivastav, said there were periods when the crew went without food for days, relying on the goodwill of passing fishermen who occasionally provided small quantities of rice and lentils. These limited supplies had to be rationed among dozens of men, with no assurance of when or if additional provisions would arrive, intensifying the sense of vulnerability on board.

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Some seafarers also described being compelled to abandon personal dietary practices due to the dire situation. One individual, who identified as a vegetarian, said he had to eat fish to survive during the prolonged crisis, underscoring the severity of the shortage. The crew also reported restricted access to clean drinking water and limited electricity, forcing them to live in near-darkness for extended periods while struggling to maintain basic hygiene and health.

The circumstances that led to the vessels remaining stranded for such a long duration remain under scrutiny, with authorities expected to investigate the operational and regulatory lapses involved. Maritime experts note that international guidelines require ship operators to ensure adequate provisions and safety measures for crew members, raising questions about accountability in this case.

The incident has once again drawn attention to the vulnerabilities faced by seafarers, particularly those operating in challenging or poorly regulated conditions. As the rescued crew begin their recovery, calls are growing for stricter enforcement of maritime labour standards and better monitoring systems to prevent similar incidents in the future, ensuring that those working at sea are not subjected to such extreme hardships again.

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