ICEBERG I

General information

Course/Position

Latest news

Crew of Iceberg 1 has not been paid wages

The crew of the "Iceberg 1" have been paid no wages by their employer since before the hijack. Many have been paid nothing despite joining the "Iceberg 1" six months before it was attacked in March 2010, and others received only a month's wages. The men desperately need cash to pay for treatment of their injuries, including bullet wounds and spinal injuries. While they were struggling with their health, no one from the shipping company has got in touch with us after we were rescued. They were hoping to get a lawyer to find out how we can get our compensation. They are in contact with the International Trade Federation people in India. Most Iceberg crew had signed contracts from six months to a year, and experts said the fine print should be checked as they appeal for their dues. The ITF said the vessel was not insured when captured. It also called on Panama, where the ship is registered, to help the crew. The ITF was talking to the crew to find out all details of how and by whom they were employed so they can decide if we can help them recover their wages.

ITF is calling on flag state to support former hostages

The International Transport Workers’ Federation) is calling on Panama to join the effort to help the recently released crew of the "Iceberg 1" to recover from their hostage ordeal after having been held for nearly three years by Somali pirates, who subjected them to torture, starvation and even mutilation. The 22 hostages, from seven nationalities - the fate of the Indian chief officer, Dhiraj Tiwari, is unknown after he was tortured and separated from the other crew, and another seafarer committed suicide during his captivity - were helped home by the UNPOS and UNODC* Hostage Support Programme, with support from, among others, Interpol, the Maritime Piracy Humanitarian Response Programme (MPHRP), the seafarers’ consulates and the ITF. Two countries sent aircraft to pick up their nationals. They are now in urgent need of psychological help to address the traumathey were deliberately subjected to, and assistance with rebuilding their lives. Many have medical problems and are looking for help. The MPHRP is assessing the help that the seafarers need, and will then arrive at an estimate of how much it will cost. Though there is a good understanding across the shipping industry of just how much these seafarers and their families have suffered over the last three years, the ITF would like the flag state Panama to join them and us in sponsoring this relief effort. There is now an opportunity for it to contribute to their support and rehabilitation. The shipowner, Azal Shipping of Dubai, had left the vessel uninsured when it was captured. The company paid no wages neither to the seafarers nor their families.

Indian and Pakistani seafarers returned home

Five Indian sailors, who had been held captive by Somali pirates for nearly 32 months on board the "Iceberg 1" have returned home on Dec 30. They reached the IGI airport in New Delhi ni the afternoon and were received by External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid. Indian officials, accompanying the five sailors, also lent a helping hand to two Pakistani seafarers who were onboard the hijacked ship. It took the Pakistani sailors to Salalah in Oman, the last stop of the aircraft outside India.