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Four Indian sailors disembarked after being stranded 1o months
Four Indian sailors, who were stranded aboard the 'Azra C' off Istanbul’s Zeytinburnu coast for nearly 10 months, have finally returned to shore, after the Turkish authorities finally intervened to end the prolonged ordeal, which started in August 2025, when the ship dropped anchor due to technical problems. Its fate became uncertain after Turkish authorities arrested five people, including the ship’s owner, on Jan. 17 as part of an investigation linked to Spain’s seizure of 10 tons of cocaine aboard the cargo ship 'United S' near the Canary Islands. With its owners detained, the 'Azra C' was left abandoned and could not be operated. Because of its classification and potential safety risks, the vessel could not be taken into port. International maritime regulations also required a minimum crew to remain on board at all times to respond to emergencies, preventing four crew members from leaving the ship. The sailors repeatedly appealed for help through radio messages, saying they had been left without hope after months at sea.
Ten seafarers abandoned on their ship
Ten Indian seafarersaboard the 'Azra C', located in Zeytinburnu, Istanbul, have been stranded on the ship for months. They appealed for help, stating: "We have no food; we are going to die here. We are utterly helpless." Food, water, and fuel have run out on the vessel, which was abandoned by its owner. Thr crew of the 'Azra C',—unable to collect unpaid wages totaling over 53,000 dollars—have been left to fend for themselves. Although the Directorate General of Shipping in India stated that it was continuing its efforts on behalf of the seafarers, while eight crew members have already been repatriated. In a radio distress call, one of the stranded seafarers appealed to the shore: "We have only 800 liters of diesel fuel left on the ship; after this runs out, we will have no fuel left at all. We have been on board for the last 7-8 months. Since that time, we have not received our wages, and for over two months now, we have been unable to establish contact with anyone—neither the shipowner nor any of the company's employees. We were in communication with the ship's local agent, but even they told us that there were no new developments. Furthermore, we have been without fresh water on board for over 20 days, and our fuel and provisions will likely run out within a week. Currently, we are running the emergency generator for 5-6 hours a day just to cook meals and charge our batteries. However, in a few days, we will have exhausted all our supplies and will be unable to contact any authorities. Sirs, we are helpless in the face of this situation, and no one is coming to our aid. We sent an email to the Port Authority, but we received no response. We also filed appeals with the authorities in Kadıköy on two separate occasions; they told us to wait, but subsequently, we received no further response. Sirs, we cannot survive much longer under these conditions; we will die here. Therefore, I implore you: please investigate this matter with the utmost urgency and ensure that all our outstanding wages are paid. We cannot abandon the ship without receiving our salaries, and if we remain here, we will surely perish." The seafarers noted that they had issued another distress call via radio on May 7, 2026, adding that despite having reached out to authorities in Turkey and Mongolia, the insurance provider, and other relevant institutions, the issue remained unresolved.
Ship detained again with 54 deficiencies
The "Azra C" was detained on Aug 6, in Istanbul with 54 deficiencies, 26 of which being regarded as seriously and grounds for a detention: 1) Certificate & Doc - Civil liability for Bunker Oil pollution damage cert Missing 2) Life saving Appliances - Rescue boats Missing 3) Life saving Appliances - Lifeboats Not properly maintained 4) Life saving Appliances - Launching arrangements for survival craft Not as required 5) Life saving Appliances - Operational readliness of lifesaving Appliances Not as required 6) Life saving Appliances - Stowage and provision of liferafts Not properly stowed 7) Emergency systems - Enclosed space entry and rescue drills Not as required 8)) Fire safety - Fire pump and its pipes' Not as required 9) Fire safety - Ventilation Inoperative 10) Structural conditions - Beams, frames, floors corrosion Damaged 11) Structural conditions - Closing devices/watertight doors Damaged 12) Structural conditions - Ballast, fuel and other tanks' Not as required 13) Structural conditions - Other (Structural conditions) Other 14) Living and working - Safe means of access Damaged 15) Living and working - Safe means of access Deck- hold/tank Not as required 16) Living and working - Electrical Unsafe 17) Living and working - Anchoring devices Not as required 18) Living and working - Other (Crew accommodation) Not as required 19) Water/Weathertight - Ventilators, air pipes and casings Damaged 20) Water/Weathertight - Ventilators, air pipes and casings Cracked 21) Water/Weathertight - Doors Not properly maintained 22) Water/Weathertight - Covers (hatchways,- portable,- tarpaulin etc) Not properly maintained 23) Water/Weathertight - Manholes /flush scuttles Not as required 24) Pollution Prevention - Sewage discharge connection Not as required 25) Pollution Prevention - Ballast Water Management System Malfunctioning 26) ISM - Ism certificate Not as required The vessel was released again on Aug 15 and permitted a single voyage to Misrata for permanent repairs. As of Aug 18, it was anchored in pos. 40° 56' N 028° 52' E. The last detention was on Jan 27 in Haifa with 14 deficiencies for one day. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063576908591
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