Himachal Pradesh Merchant Navy Officer Rikshit Chauhan Detained From Marinera Tanker By US Forces
Rikshit Chauhan, a Himachal merchant navy officer, was detained on a Russian tanker seized by the US; his family appeals for his return.
A 26-year-old merchant navy officer from Kangra district in Himachal Pradesh, Rikshit Chauhan, remains detained aboard a Russian-flagged oil tanker seized by United States forces in the North Atlantic last week, just a month before his scheduled wedding on February 19, 2026. His family has made an emotional appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to intervene and secure his safe return to India.
Rikshit, who joined a Russian shipping company on August 1, 2025, was on his first sea assignment when he was deployed to Venezuela to load oil onto the vessel Marinera (previously known as Bella 1). According to his father, Ranjit Singh, the ship waited at the border for 10 days amid rising US military pressure on Venezuela. When the company instructed the crew to return, the tanker was intercepted following a prolonged maritime pursuit that reportedly began in the Caribbean Sea and extended into the North Atlantic. The vessel was seized by US forces on January 7, 2026, after which contact with Rikshit was lost.
His mother, Reeta Devi, spoke to reporters in Palampur, expressing deep distress over the timing of the incident. "We last spoke to Rikshit on January 7, and he assured us he was well, but we have heard nothing since. We are praying for his safe return before his wedding," she said, urging the Indian government to act swiftly. The family highlighted that Rikshit was one of three Indian crew members on board—the others hailing from Goa and Kerala—among a total of 28 crew, which included 20 Ukrainians, six Georgians, and two Russians. While the two Russian crew members were released on Sunday, January 11, the remaining detainees, including the three Indians, are still being held.
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The seizure has drawn attention to escalating geopolitical tensions involving US sanctions on Venezuelan oil exports and related maritime enforcement actions. India's Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed last week that the government is closely monitoring the situation and ascertaining further details about the Indian nationals involved. Meanwhile, the local Palampur MLA has sought information on Rikshit's case and assured the family that he would raise the matter with the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister in Shimla.
Rikshit's detention has left his family in anguish as they prepare for what was meant to be a joyous occasion. The incident underscores the risks faced by Indian seafarers working on international vessels amid global geopolitical flashpoints. As diplomatic efforts continue, the family and local community await updates on the safe repatriation of Rikshit and his fellow Indian crew members. Authorities have not yet disclosed the exact location of the detained crew or the current status of legal proceedings related to the seizure.
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