Sponsored By

ITF takes aim at AdvanFort as Seaman Guard Ohio crew acquitted in IndiaITF takes aim at AdvanFort as Seaman Guard Ohio crew acquitted in India

The International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) has welcomed the freeing of the crew of the Seaman Guard Ohio as “some form of justice”, but attacked the role of the vessel’s owner AdvanFort.

Marcus Hand, Editor

November 28, 2017

1 Min Read
Kalyakan - stock.adobe.com

The 35 crew of the Seaman Guard Ohio, including six former British soldiers – the Chennai Six – were acquitted by an Indian court of Monday on weapons smuggling charges for which they were jailed for five years in January 2016.

“At last there is some form of justice, even if it cannot restore to the men the time lost since their arrest in 2013,” said David Heindel, ITF seafarers section chair.

The 35 seafarers and armed guards onboard the maritime security vessel were detained off the Indian coast in 2013 and were jailed for five years in 2016, despite charges have been dropped in 2014 by the Madras High Court.

The ITF has been among the organisations that has supported the men since 2013 and helped to fund the appeal.

Heindel, however, took aim at the US-headquartered owners of the Seaman Guard Ohio maritime security company AdvanFort. AdvanFort while initially supportive of the detained crew members later walked away leaving them stranded and unpaid in India.

“Unfortunately, one glaring injustice remains: the scandal of AdvanFort getting off scot free, having washed its hands of its employees. It is nothing short of shameful that our justice system allows them to get away with this,” Heindel stated.

“But as we have witnessed over and over, this is the flag of convenience system that has been created.”

The Seaman Guard Ohio was flagged with Sierra Leone.

Read more about:

India

About the Author

Marcus Hand

Editor

Marcus Hand is the editor of Seatrade Maritime News and a dedicated maritime journalist with over two decades of experience covering the shipping industry in Asia.

Marcus is also an experienced industry commentator and has chaired many conferences and round tables. Before joining Seatrade at the beginning of 2010, Marcus worked for the shipping industry journal Lloyd's List for a decade and before that the Singapore Business Times covering shipping and aviation.

In November 2022, Marcus was announced as a member of the Board of Advisors to the Singapore Journal of Maritime Talent and Technology (SJMTT) to help bring together thought leadership around the key areas of talent and technology.

Marcus is the founder of the Seatrade Maritime Podcast that delivers commentary, opinions and conversations on shipping's most important topics.

Conferences & Webinars

Marcus Hand regularly moderates at international maritime events. Below you’ll find a list of selected past conferences and webinars.

Get the latest maritime news, analysis and more delivered to your inbox
Join 12,000+ members of the maritime community

You May Also Like