Palampur, Jan 10: A youth from Himachal Pradesh is among three Indian nationals detained after the United States Coast Guard seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic, triggering anxiety among families and prompting calls for diplomatic intervention.
The tanker, Marinera, formerly known as Bella 1, was intercepted on Wednesday while en route to Russia. It was reportedly carrying crude oil linked to Venezuela and had been chartered by a private trader. US authorities have detained all 28 crew members on board pending legal and diplomatic procedures.
Among those detained is Rikshit Chauhan, a resident of Himachal Pradesh, who had joined the Merchant Navy in August last year. This was his first assignment at sea, according to his family.
At the time of seizure, the vessel had 28 crew members, including three Indians, 20 Ukrainians, six Georgians and two Russians.
Rikshit’s father, Ranjit Singh, said the family has been unable to contact him for several days. “We last spoke to our son five days ago. Since then, there has been complete silence,” he said. “No official agency has contacted us. We are extremely worried about his safety.”
He added that the family had celebrated Rikshit’s decision to join the Merchant Navy, but the situation has now left them distressed. “This was his first voyage. We never imagined something like this would happen,” Singh said.
Family members said a representative from the Merchant Navy Officers Association of India informed them that the Russian government was monitoring the situation closely. Moscow has reportedly urged the US to ensure humane treatment of all crew members and allow their early repatriation.
Local MLA Ashish Butail has reached out to the family and assured them of support. He has written to Chief Secretary Sanjay Gupta, requesting that the matter be urgently taken up with the Ministry of External Affairs.
The incident has raised concerns within maritime and diplomatic circles, as it involves sanctions, international maritime law and the rights of civilian seafarers. Families of the detained crew continue to wait for official communication and clarity on the next steps.
