Workers of NUSI and MUI demand the release of tanker and crew

Mumbai, Aug 27: A week after Indian tanker MT Desh Shanti was detained in Iran, protests erupted in Mumbai today as workers of National Union of Seafarers India (NUSI) and Maritime Union of India (MUI) demanded that the ship be released.

The ship was detained by the Iran Revolutionary Guards last week stating that the tanker was carrying crude oil and was causing oil pollution in the Gulf of Persia. The captain of the ship told that the morale of the crew was very low. He also added that the Iranian authorities have already conducted multiple inspections.

An official from Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) initially had said that the tanker was carrying crude oil from Iraq, but now the officials claim that the ship wasn't carrying any oil and was at least 400 nautical miles away from the place where it was accused of causing oil pollution.

Government officials on Tuesday afternoon said that negotiations were on with Iran to release the tanker.

In the meantime workers from the NUSI and MUI demanded that the tanker be released as there were about 30-40 officers and crew members on it.

The development comes after India has taken steps to reduce its crude import from Iran.

OneIndia News