Seaman Guard Ohio Crew Found Guilty in India

[JK]

35 crew sentenced..right down to the guy who cleaned the toilets and didn't have much say where the ship was going.

Statement from The Mission to Seafarers The Seaman Guard Ohio Crew Found Guilty

This morning we have heard from families of the crew of the guilty verdict in the case of the Seaman Guard Ohio. 35 crewmen including 6 British nationals have been sentenced to 5 years in prison on charges of carrying illegal arms, illegal refuelling and unlawfully entering Indian waters off the coast of Tuticorin on 18 October 2013. They have been held in India ever since and have vehemently protested their innocence. The men and families are deeply shocked and devastated at this decision and are stunned that the evidence has not irrefutably proven that the men were acting legally under international maritime law. The SGO is an anti-piracy support ship that carries crew and guards to protect merchant shipping.

Ken Peters, Director of Justice and Public Affairs, The Mission to Seafarers, said "I am horrified and filled with anguish at this decision which is deeply unfair and unjust. These men are seafarers but it seems the court did not accept the basic fact that the ship was and is an anti-piracy vessel. The men carried arms in accordance with international maritime law for the purpose of ensuring the merchant fleet was protected properly from the very real risk of pirate attacks and hijack. The men have already suffered so much so this is a terrible outcome. It is beyond belief. We understand that the men's defence team are examining the possibility of an appeal.”

[JollyJack]

Not a good idea to mess with pirates there, you don't know who operates and controls them. From this result, it's pretty obvious who does. Don't get me wrong! I liked running in to ports in India, but you have to follow customs and practises. It's not unusual to have 16 people for a port health inspection, 24 for customs clearance and 6 for a Port State Control inspections. All, of course, expect "Compliments".

[JK]

The Madras High Bench refused to suspend the 5 year sentence on Monday, in light of the "grave" charges leveled when the ship entered Indian waters with a huge cache of arms and ammunition.
Apparently they ran out of diesel. They did not issue a distress call,
The appellants said "running out of diesel is not a distress or peril of the sea warranting giving communication to the port authorities. In such circumstances the Captain will send communication to his owner who will arrange for diesel through his agent or advise the Captain to procure diesel from another vessel mid sea."

I wonder if they wish they made that distress call now. Or if they had, would they have still been arrested.