Indian Crew Member on Seized Ship Returns Home

Indian deck cadet Ann Tessa Joseph, a member of the crew of container vessel MSC Aries, has safely arrived at Cochin International Airport, thanks to the coordinated efforts of the Indian mission in Tehran and the Iranian government. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, confirmed her safe return and stated that the Indian mission in Tehran is actively involved in the matter and is in contact with the remaining 16 Indian crew members who are in good health and in touch with their families in India. The Indian government is also in communication with Iranian authorities to ensure the well-being of the remaining crew members. Following Ms. Joseph’s safe return to India, Foreign Minister Mr. Jaishankar expressed appreciation for the Indian mission in Iran and emphasized the successful repatriation, highlighting the government’s commitment to ensuring the safety and return of Indian citizens both at home and abroad.

The seizure of the vessel MSC Aries has occurred amidst heightened tensions in the Middle East, with concerns of potential Israeli counterattacks on Iran, following Iran’s missile launch at Israel and an Israeli airstrike in Syria’s Damascus. Iran has linked the vessel to Israel and mentioned it in the context of the Gulf. The container ship, MSC Aries, is Portuguese-flagged, as reported by vesselfinder.com and marinetraffic.com, with its last known position in the Gulf.