Nearly over two weeks after an Israel-linked container vessel was seized by Iran’s military, on Thursday Bharat said there are certain technicalities involved in the return of the remaining 16 Bharatiya crew members.
Ann Tessa Joseph, the sole woman cadet among the 17 Bharatiya crew members of the vessel ‘MSC Aries’ that was seized on April 13, was released on April 18 followed with the efforts by the Bhartiya mission in Tehran and the Iranian government.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the 16 Bharatiyas are in good health. ‘The Bharatiya mission was given consular access to the Bharatiyas by Iranian authorities. There are 16 Bharatiyas onboard MSC Aries now as one woman has come back’, said Jaiswal.
He said, ‘These 16 people, we had asked consular access for, which we got. Our officers went there and met. They are in constant touch with their families. Their health is good. And they have no problems of any kind onboard the ship’.
He added, ‘As far as their return is concerned, there are certain technicalities involved, there are some obligations, once that is done, it will depend on that when will they return’.
Joseph, who hails from Thrissur in Kerala, landed at the Cochin international airport on April 18 afternoon. The 17 Bharatiyas were part of the 25-member crew of the ship.
Bharat has been in touch with Iran to secure the release of the Indians onboard container ship.
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