India’s Ministry of External Affairs says it is in close contact with the Russian embassy over the welfare and repatriation of Russian seafarers stranded on the arrested oil tanker Unity near Paradip Port, a case formally listed as crew abandonment. The seafarers’ contracts have expired, wages remain unpaid and they have been kept on board beyond agreed service terms. A High Court hearing on September 21 is expected to move the repatriation process forward and highlights broader gaps in protecting abandoned crews.
According to Indian officials, the oil tanker Unity has been under arrest off Paradip Port in Odisha, with its Russian crew classified as victims of an official seafarer abandonment case. Entries in the joint ILO–IMO abandonment database show that the vessel is listed with outstanding wages and pending repatriation, and that the crew’s employment contracts have already expired. India’s Ministry of External Affairs has stated that it is in regular contact with the Russian embassy to address the crew’s welfare and coordinate their eventual return home, while national maritime authorities are being asked to support the process. The Russian consulate has urged Indian agencies to expedite crew relief, repatriation and payment of wage arrears, citing international obligations under ILO guidelines.
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