Wayanad: Parents of Dhanesh P V, one of the four Malayalis stranded onboard Israel-affiliated container vessel MSC Aries which has been seized by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, heaved a sigh of relief when they received a brief phone call from their son on Sunday afternoon.
"The call was brief, and he simply said, 'I am safe,'" said Viswanathan, Dhanesh's father. Dhanesh had been working with MSC Aries for almost three years and was scheduled to return home for vacation when the vessel was seized, Viswanathan told Onmanorama.
"The call came from a different number, possibly an official line from the ship," Viswanathan said. Dhanesh had last visited his home in Palvelicham near Kuruva Islands, Mananthavadi, in August last year.
Viswanathan and his wife Shailaja were at their daughter Dhanya's home in Balussery celebrating Vishu when news of the ship's seizure near the Strait of Hormuz broke. "We have already sought Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's assistance, with the help of Mananthavady MLA O R Kelu, to secure the immediate release of our son," Viswanathan added.
The other Malayalis among the crew held by Iran are Ann Tessa Joseph from Thrissur, Shyamnath from Ramanattukara in Kozhikode, and Sumesh from Palakkad. Of the 25 crew members onboard 17 are Indians.
The family of Shyamnath also received the distressing news about their son just as they anticipated his return after the Vishu holidays.
"We are going through tough times. We have huge concerns about the safety of our son. The company authorities said they could not contact the ship crew after the seizure," Shyamnath's father Vishwanathan told media.
"Shyamnath called them on Saturday morning and assured them he would be home within two days," Biju Sivadas, the elected representative of the 19th ward of Peruvayal panchayat, told Onmanorama. "We hope the crew will be released within two days," Sivadas added.
Hailing from Velliparamba in Kozhikode, Shyamnath has been working as a second engineer in MSC Aries for the last 10 years. He last visited his hometown in September last year. Shyamnath's father Viswanathan Menon is a retired Navy officer.
The Mediterranean Shipping Company, which owns the ship, also informed Thrissur native Ann Tessa Joseph's family that all individuals onboard were safe.
CM seeks Centre's intervention
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday sought the intervention of the external affairs ministry seeking the safe return of Indian nationals including those from the state who are onboard the seized ship in the gulf region. Vijayan wrote a letter to Union External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar sharing the concerns of the Kerala government over the safety of the crew members of the ship.
“As you are aware, the ship's seizure has caused great concern, especially for the families and loved ones of the crew members. Our collective objective at this point of time is the safe repatriation of all our nationals including those from Kerala, back to India without any delay. Given the geopolitical situation surrounding this incident, I urge immediate intervention and decisive action through diplomatic channels," Vijayan said in the letter.
Official sources on Friday said India has called on Iranian authorities through diplomatic channels, both in Tehran and Delhi, to ensure the welfare and early release of the 17 Indian crew members of MSC Aries. The MSC said it is working closely with relevant authorities for the well-being of the crew members and the return of the vessel.