Four Indian seafarers who had been held in Saudi Arabia over a disagreement with their shipowner received clearance to depart on Wednesday, November 11, after the Indian Embassy in Riyadh intervened.
The diplomats in Riyadh announced on X that the crew completed all sign‑off procedures and will board a flight back to India once formalities are finished. While the embassy thanked Saudi officials for their cooperation, it did not reveal the name of the vessel, the employing company or the exact cause of the row that left the sailors stranded.
The incident adds to a series of recent hardships faced by Indian mariners in the Gulf. In early October, ten Indian crew members were among twelve personnel left aboard the diving support vessel Crocodile 001 at Yanbu Commercial Port. According to the International Labour Organization's abandonment database, those sailors were owed four months of wages. An update on October 8 noted that one seafarer had been repatriated, yet the pending salaries remained unpaid.
India's diplomatic mission in Riyadh routinely assists nationals encountering employment‑related problems abroad, acting as a liaison with Saudi authorities to resolve disputes and arrange repatriation when needed. The latest clearance demonstrates that the embassy continues to play a pivotal role in safeguarding the welfare of Indian expatriates working at sea.
Family members of the four sailors can now expect a reunion, and the embassy wishes them a safe journey home. The broader issue of unpaid wages and abandoned crews highlights the need for stronger safeguards for Indian seafarers operating on foreign waters.
Image: siasat.com
📰 Source: Siasat Gulf