New Delhi: The 24 Indian crew members aboard Iranian tanker Grace 1 have been freed, according to a tweet by Minister of State for External Affairs V Murleedharan. The tanker had been seized by Gibraltar authorities with the help of British marines.
The release of the 24 Indian crew members came after India launched efforts to bring them back home.
“Spoke to our High Commission @HCI_London on VLCC Grace 1. They confirmed that all 24 Indian crew aboard VLCC Grace 1 have been released by Gibraltar authorities and are free to return to India,” Muraleedharan tweeted and along with it also , tagged Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
The Grace 1 was detained by Gibraltar authorities, July 4 on charges of transporting oil to Syria in violation of European Union (EU) sanctions. Two weeks later, Iran reciprocated by seizing a British oil tanker near the Strait of Hormuz. The 18 Indians aboard the British vessel, the Stena Impero, seized by Iran are yet to be released.
“I’m grateful and thankful for my release. And I am grateful to everybody in my legal team who have facilitated my release,” the Indian Captain of Grace 1 tanker, said. Gibraltar has also confirmed that police proceedings against all the 24 Indian crew members have been dropped.
Last week, Stena Bulk – the tanker operator owning the Stena Impero – had sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s help to secure its release. “Before the situation with those on board and with their families becomes more distressing, I would request you to personally intervene and seek that the crew be released back to their families, who anxiously await their safe return,” Stena Bulk chief executive and president Erik Hanell wrote to Modi.
Agencies