Kerala Family Waits For News Of Son Aboard Seized Cargo Ship Linked To Israel

An elderly couple in northern Kerala is enduring anxious moments, concerned about the safety of their son who is aboard a seized Israel-linked cargo ship in the Gulf region, and fervently praying for his safe return.

Their son, Shyamnath, is among the 17 Indians on board the MSC Aries, a cargo ship seized by the Iranian military near the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday.

Shyamnath's parents, Vishwanathan and Shyamala, who are struggling to come to terms with the news, mentioned that they spoke to him on Saturday. Later that day, they received a call from the shipping company's Mumbai office, informing them about the shocking development.

"We are going through tough times...we have great concerns about the safety of our son. The company authorities said they could not contact the ship crew after the seizure," Vishwanathan told the media.

Shyamnath, hailing from Velliparamba in northern Kerala, has been working as a second engineer on the MSC Aries for the past 10 years. He last visited his hometown in September last year, according to his parents.

Viswanathan noted that besides Shyamnath, two men from neighboring Palakkad and Wayanad districts were also among the crew members. He added that besides Indians, nationals from the Philippines, Pakistan, and Russia were also part of the crew.

Despite their anxieties, the family expressed hope that the interventions made by the Centre would help bring their son and his colleagues back to safety soon.

Kerala CM writes to Jaishankar

Earlier, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan wrote to Jaishankar on Sunday, urging decisive action through diplomatic channels to secure the safety of 17 Indian crew members aboard the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) Aries. In his letter, the Chief Minister highlighted that three crew members, Sumesh, PV Dhanesh, and Syamnath, hail from Kerala. He expressed concern that the sudden seizure of the ship had caused anxiety and worry among the families and friends of the crew members.

Iran to Allow India Access to Detained Indian Ship Crew

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian has assured External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar that Iranian authorities will permit Indian government officials to meet with the 17 Indian crew members aboard the cargo ship MSC Aries, which was seized by the Iranian military near the Strait of Hormuz.

During a phone call with his Iranian counterpart, Jaishankar expressed concern about the situation of the Indian crew members and requested assistance from Tehran.

In response, the Iranian Foreign Minister stated that his government was actively pursuing details regarding the seized cargo ship. He assured that arrangements for representatives of the Indian government to meet with the crew would be made soon.

The incident, which occurred on April 13, involved commandos raiding the Israel-linked ship near the Strait of Hormuz via helicopter. This incident followed Iran's retaliation against Israel, which involved around 300 drones and missiles, in response to the April 1 Israeli strike on an Iranian embassy in Damascus, Syria.

During their conversation, Amirabdollahian conveyed to Jaishankar the importance of reducing tensions and defended Iran's actions as "legitimate defense," particularly in reference to the attack on Israel. He also urged India to continue playing an active role through international bodies, including the UN Security Council, to halt the conflict in Gaza and put an end to Israeli aggression in the Palestinian enclave, as per the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

Amirabdollahian reiterated Iran's stance on seeking a lasting ceasefire in Gaza and promoting peace and stability in the broader region from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea.

In response, Jaishankar emphasized the paramount importance of de-escalating tensions. He called on all parties to exercise restraint and take steps toward a peaceful resolution of the conflict between Iran and Israel.

On Sunday, Jaishankar disclosed that he had spoken with his counterparts from Iran and Israel to express his concerns regarding the escalating tensions between the two nations.

In his discussion with the Iranian Foreign Minister, Jaishankar also raised the issue of the 17 Indian crew members stranded on the MSC Aries.

"Spoke to Iranian FM @Amirabdolahian this evening. Took up the release of 17 Indian crew members of MSC Aries. Discussed the current situation in the region. Stressed the importance of avoiding escalation, exercising restraint, and returning to diplomacy. Agreed to remain in touch," he wrote on X.

Following his discussion with Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz, Jaishankar tweeted, "Just concluded a conversation with Israel FM @Israel_katz. Shared our concern at the developments yesterday. Discussed the larger regional situation. Agreed to stay in touch."

The tensions between Iran and Israel come against the backdrop of a raging war between Israel and Palestinian terror group Hamas in Gaza.

The six-month-old war, which was triggered following Hamas's sudden attack on Israel on October 7 last year, has already claimed over 33,000 lives.