Among the over 250 Indians stranded in coronavirus-hit Iran are fishermen and seafarers. Many of these seafarers are trainee ratings, who have been marooned in boats abandoned by the owners in ports such as Khorramshahr, Bandar Mahshahr and Bushehr. The Iranian crew in the boats have left for their homes.
The abandoned vessels are practically dead ships with no power or fuel. The trainees who can’t leave the port are making do with whatever supplies they can muster and keeping their spirits alive. Many say they have received no medical attention though none of them has shown any visible symptoms of COVID-19.
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For many of these trainees, the 12-months they serve on the small Iranian ships — practically boats that ferry loose cargo from Dubai and back — will enable them to become certified seamen in India. Many have foregone salaries and some have put up money to agents in India to serve as trainees and become full-fledged seafarers so they can make a career in the merchant navy.
Some of them have completed 12 months but have been unable to leave.
Their owners have told them to stay in abandoned boats until the situation improves.
Snehit Barathe from Pune completed his 12-month training on March 5 on the ship