Screengrab from video of FSUI seeking help & action (Credit: FSUI)
The Forward Seamen’s Union of India (FSUI) on Saturday called for assistance after an officer on a vessel off Oman Coast passed away. two days ago. The union body called for help, repatriation and action for the deceased Second Officer on MT Celestial”35-year-old Second Officer Nishanth Uirthanathan (Tamil Nadu) passed away on June 11 after falling seriously ill. His body has remained onboard for over 2 days with no proper refrigeration. Crew is using cold water bottles in a desperate attempt to slow decomposition — a horrifying and health-risking situation,” it said in a post on X, while sharing a video on the officer’s body wrapped in an attempt at preservation.FSUI further alleged that medical help to the officer was delayed to regional tensions and now his body is still being kept onboard without proper preservation. “Despite repeated distress calls, timely medical evacuation was reportedly delayed amid regional tensions. FSUI and the captain are urgently demanding body preservation/repatriation, crew support, and full investigation into the response failures,” it added while giving condolences to his family and calling on authorities to “act immediately”.
Screenshot of post on X.
Regional tensions have caused issues for multiple vessels and even led to death of three Indian sailors. The US military had said the vessels were targeted for allegedly transporting Iranian oil in violation of a US naval blockade imposed on Tehran.India has twice summoned the US Chargé d’Affaires in New Delhi and lodged a strong protest over the attacks, while external affairs minister S Jaishankar raised the issue with US secretary of state Marco Rubio.The controversy escalated further after US President Donald Trump accused Iran of carrying out a drone attack on Indian vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, calling the alleged strike “totally unacceptable”. Tehran rejected the allegation, with the Iranian Embassy in India describing it as “baseless” and accusing Washington of attempting to divert attention from the US attacks on Indian-crewed ships that resulted in the deaths of Indian sailors.
