With the joint operational efforts of Fleet Management Limited, a maritime services conglomerate, and Elegant Marine Services, a manpower agency, 45 Indian seafarers have been rescued from Ukraine.
Late in February this year, seafarers arrived in the port of Mykolaiv aboard two vessels for a cargo operation. But as the military operations escalated on account of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the cargo operation was aborted by the Ukrainian officials, and the entire crew was held up.
Elegant Marine Services officials contacted the defence attaché and the Indian embassy in Ukraine after 45 Indian seafarers faced a food and provisions crisis and the imminent danger of being in a war-torn territory.
Both the attaché and the embassy swiftly responded and came up with an evacuation plan. A bus was arranged to pick up all crew members and allow their passage through the exit gates with the proper approval of port authorities. The bus was escorted by a security party to the Moldova border.
The embassy in Moldova further facilitated entry procedures and transported all the crew members safely to Romania. With the Indian tri-colour clearly visible on the bus windshield, the crew members made it safely to Romania.
Kishore Rajvanshy, Managing Director of Fleet Management Limited, a third-party ship management company headquartered in Hong Kong, said: “We are deeply concerned with the situation in Ukraine and our thoughts are with all those who have been affected by the conflict.” Despite this very frightening circumstance, the crew displayed an enormous amount of courage and bravery, and we are very relieved that both ships’ crews have been safely evacuated out of Ukraine, with one part of the crew already home in India and the other part in neutral territory and preparing for the final leg of the journey back home. The safety and wellbeing of our seafarers are always our top priority, and we will be with them every step of the way until they are reunited with their families and loved ones. This incredible feat would not have been possible without the tremendous leadership of the Indian embassy in Ukraine, who spearheaded the evacuation. ”
On reaching Romania, the crew members received physical and psychological support, and the 23 crew members boarded an Indian Air Force aircraft, which landed in India in the early hours of March 10th.
The remaining 22 crew members have already reached neutral territory in Romania and will be brought back to India in the next few days.
The managing director of Fleet Management Limited is looking forward to seeing all his seafarers united with their families here in India and expressed his gratitude towards the Indian embassy in Ukraine for its relentless support.