In our August 1-15, 2008 issue we carried a report 'MV Nirmal Bhushan issue: Is silence the best option?' It stated how the lives of 7 Indian seamen of MV Nirmal Bhushan were in danger at Umm Qasar Port in Iraq. The desperate crew members not only appraised the media about their plight but also had approached the DG Shipping, Consulate of India in Baghdad (Iraq) too. However, no one really came to their rescue excepting the owner of the ship (Mr VB Verma, Owner, Binny Shipping Co, Mumbai), their Crew Managers - ABS Marine Services Pvt Ltd and of course God's grace.

The crew members were successfully repatriated and the issue was resolved after months long relentless efforts by ABS Marine and the ship-owner Mr Verma. But not before spending money like water and knocking all possible doors only to learn the final lesson, 'Dare not enter Iraqi waters again.'

The good news of successful crew repatriation on MV Nirmal Bhushan was conveyed to THE MARINE WORLD specially by ABS Marine and Mr Verma through veteran P&I expert Capt Amulya Kumar Singh, who is also the Director of AK Services Limited. Subsequently, our editorial team met Capt AK Singh at his Nariman Point office in Mumbai and also interacted with Mr Raman Malhotra, ManagerTechnical, ABS Marine Services and Mr Sandeep, Fleet Personal, ABS Marine.

Later, Mr V B Verma, Managing Director, Binny Shipping Ltd also communicated to us his views on this issue.
We are happy to carry their views in this follow-up article. They were all delighted, relieved and thankful to God because they could finally repatriate their 7 crew members.

Remind you, all their prayers and pleadings to Iraqi authorities and officials of other shipping bodies really fetched them nothing except refusals and denials. Everyone found a reason to turn down their requests and repeated appeals, but finally they managed to emerge victorious. Here is how they expressed their views and what they said on this grueling issue, which forced them not to only spend sleepless nights with anxiety, but also spend huge money and prey to the Almighty to save their crew.


Capt AK Singh: The true story is that ABS Marine has gone out of the way to repatriate the crew members. They had to deal with number of agents and government agencies to get the things in order. The vessel was carrying 34,500 tonnes of rice, which was to be discharged at Umm Qasar Port in Iraq. The ship had to wait for almost 15 days at Umm Qasar anchorage. The ship had only natural ventilation. The temperature during the voyage and in Persian Gulf was 38-39 degree Centigrade. In Umm Qasar, the temperature in night was 12 to 14 degree Centigrade. The sea water was cooler than air temperature in the holds, and this resulted in 'ship's sweat'. The sweat dropped on the top tiers of the stow. Rice bags on the op tiers thus got damaged. Owners turned to charters, charters turned to agents, agents to various officials, but nothing could be done. Some damage was thus inevitable, but when the ship finally berthed, the cargo receivers, who inspected, reported that the entire cargo was damaged and they withdrew their stevedores. They demanded USD 15.5 million towards damaged cargo. Even militia blocked the cargo at Basra. The cargo was simply not allowed to be discharged in Iraq. As we are aware that law and order situation in Iraq was not stable, it was difficult for the company's agent to make suitable arrangements to discharge the cargo. Even though about 800 to 1000 tonnes of cargo were discharged but it was returned back.

Ship was arrested and Master's passport was taken away. The cargo was insured with a German Cargo insurance company. The cargo undertaken in Germany, tried to assist but even after their recommendations and contacts, nothing could be achieved. A lawyer was appointed, External Affairs Ministry in Delhi and British High Commission in Bagdad were approached for help. Reminders were sent time and again, but nothing really could be achieved. Ration of the crew was finishing, power was minimum and crew members were not allowed to even step out. But ABS Marine and the owner of the ship Mr Verma toiled hard to manage things. They appointed locals at high wages to do the job after crew repatriation and finally managed to achieve after spending a vast amount of money, what at one time appeared next to impossible. The lesson learnt 'Keep away from Iraqi waters.’

Mr Raman Malhotra: We had to run from pillar to post. We met officials at DG Shipping, Ministry of External Affairs and many other agencies. We were under huge pressure from DG Shipping to repatriate the crew members. Unfortunately, DGS was not in a position to help us in any way rather than just ordering us to repatriate the crew members immediately. We made all arrangements to ensure that the ship has enough ration and other necessary things at heavy cost. The ship owner and the Binny Ship management were kind enough to extend their best possible supports. Initially, whoever agents or surveyors we arranged to settle the matter, they simple resigned from their assignments due to law and order conditions in Iraq. Moreover, we tried to send our own team to visit Iraq, but visa was simply denied.

It took almost four months for us to get a concerned company in Singapore, which arranged to solve the complete issue at the expense of huge professional charges, all paid by the ship owner.
Mr Sandeep: I was very much involved in the issue and managed to be in touch with our crew. We coordinated to extend all possible helps to repatriate the crew members. I did not even take a single leave for two months. I was even present full day in office on Saturdays and Sundays. We had to arrange to and fro boat services from Dubai to Umm Qasar. We had to bear a cost of USD 750 per person for it. I would also like to clarify that few allegations were made against the company regarding crew wages. Let me make it clear, though we could not pay anything when the ship was arrested, because there was no reliable source and we hoped to clear the issue at the earliest, but we managed to pay the complete wages of all the crew members at their signoff in full and final. There are no pending dues of any of the crew members. Moreover, most of the crew members are still in touch with us for their next contract.

A final word from the owners:
Mr V B Verma: The owners of the ship wish to thank all those who stood by them in this near impossible situation through which they passed for eight long months but at the end of which the truth prevailed. Out of 34,500 tonnes of bagged cargo nearly over 95% was found good and was discharged - what was indeed branded earlier as bad was just a face saving for the authorities. We shall be failing in our duties if a special mention is not made for the additional secretary Mr Sanjay Singh of Ministry and Transport, the Indian Consul in Baghdad, our total staff, headed by Capt Nilesh Kamat, the Philipino Chief Engineer Mr Cabero Rolando, who with all his countrymen officers and crew stood by us like a rock, and there after our people - Capt Kantikar and Capt Vijay, who did a marvelous job, got far too carried away only towards the end.

Not forgetting the giant Mr Dieter Krogger, the Chief of Alliance Global, Hamburg, our Lawyer Mr Ammar Elliati, our office staff and dozens who contributed to the eventual success which looked at one time an impossible situation. Capt Singh was always a guiding force having dealt such commercial situations, a wonderful friend and a guide.
In the end the truth prevailed, and I believe in the principle “God is truth and truth is God.”