Second group of Russian seafarers from the tanker Unity returns home from India

The second group of the crew has returned to Russia

The second group of Russian seafarers from the tanker Unity, which was detained off the coast of India, has returned home. RIA Novosti reported this, citing the Russian Consulate General; the story was published by Gazeta.Ru. According to the diplomatic mission, the repatriation of the third group will take place in the near future. The first group of seafarers returned home back in late October.

The situation aboard the vessel

For several months the crew was unable to leave the tanker, which India detained in May off Paradip port over a commercial dispute. The seafarers reported shortages of spare parts, electricity and food, said the ship's owner was not responding to their appeals, and at the same time continued to stand watch and ensure the safety of the Unity, which was in an emergency condition several dozen kilometers from shore. New Delhi, according to the publication, claimed it was aware of the problems aboard the vessel.

What was known earlier

In September it was reported that the tanker had been caught in a severe storm, and later — that the seafarers were in Bhubaneswar, the capital of the state of Odisha. The return of the second group became known a few days after the remains of seafarers were found on a burned-out vessel in Varna — the publication mentions this as a separate incident, with no connection to the tanker Unity.