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Father of Indian sailor aboard British tanker hopes for crew’s return

He became part of the Stena Impero’s crew only a month ago.

The father of an Indian sailor from Kerala, who is onboard the seized British tanker Stena Impero, said he is counting on India’s diplomatic strength to bring all the crew members home safely.

Speaking to Khaleej Times over the phone from Kalamassery, Kochi in Kerala, T. V Pappachan, said his son Dijo Pappachan, 26, was in touch with the family the same day when the ship was seized by Iran’s revolutionary Guard.

"He called and spoke with his mother on July 18, Thursday morning saying he is on his way to Saudi Arabia from Dubai. To our utter shock, we got a call from his company the next day saying the ship is under Iran’s custody."

Iran seized the British oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz on Friday following weeks of threats of retaliation to Britain’s capture of Iranian tanker Grace 1 on July 4. Britain has called Iran’s capture of the tanker in the Gulf a"hostile act" and rejected Tehran’s explanation that it seized the vessel because it had been involved in an accident.

Of the 23 crew members who are on board Impero, 18 are reported to be Indians. There are also three Russians, a Latvian and a Filipino. As per media reports, four among the 18 Indians are Keralites, including the captain of the vessel.

Dijo has been working for the company for the past two years and he boarded Impero only a month ago, said his father.

Pappachan said Dijo had mentioned about his colleagues from Kerala. "We know they are from Fort Kochi and the other from Thrippunithura. But we don’t know their names or other details."

Iran TV on Sunday reported that all crew members are safe and in good health.

But for families like Pappachan’s, it is a trauma to know that their dear ones are in hostile waters.

"I am not speaking only for my son. All the 23 crew members set sail to foreign countries for work. They are onboard to make a living. It is the government’s responsibility to make sure they come back safe."

"I have complete trust in the government of India and our diplomatic strength. I understand that the issue is between countries and individuals cannot do much. We are all praying for the entire crew’s safe return," said Pappachan.

The chief minister of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan’s office tweeted on Sunday that they are in touch with foreign minister S Jaishankar.

"I request that all possible efforts to ensure the safety of the crew be made and the relevant details of the persons may be shared with the state government so that their family members can be contacted and we can be of help in their hour of crisis," Kerala CM wrote in his letter to the foreign minister.