Family Of Indian Seafarer Killed On MT Settebello Calls For High-Level Probe Into The Tragic Incident

The family of Aditya Sharma, a 23-year-old Indian deck cadet who was killed aboard the Palau-flagged tanker MT Settebello off the coast of Oman, has demanded a high-level investigation into the incident.

The incident occurred amid continuing tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints for oil and gas shipments, where the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran has heightened risks for commercial shipping.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs has lodged a strong protest with the United States following the attack, while New Delhi has begun efforts to repatriate the deceased seafarers and the surviving crew.

Aditya, who was from the Galore area of Himachal Pradesh’s Hamirpur district, was among three Indian crew members who were initially reported missing and later confirmed dead. Twenty-one of the vessel’s 24 Indian crew members were rescued.

His family says it is seeking answers about what led to the deaths and whether adequate measures were taken to protect and rescue the crew.

“There are a lot of ways to control those cargo ships. You have no right to attack them with deadly missiles,” Aditya’s father, Rajesh Sharma, told Indian media while urging the government to take a strong stance over the incident.

The family is also awaiting the return of Aditya’s mortal remains.

Rajesh Sharma has questioned why the vessel was operating in a high-risk area despite worsening security conditions in the region.

According to him, Aditya had informed the family that the ship had received warnings from the US Navy in the days before the incident while attempting to navigate through the Strait of Hormuz.

The family has also alleged that Aditya faced exploitation and excessive work demands aboard the vessel. According to his father, the young cadet had wanted to leave the ship earlier this year and had filed a complaint against senior crew members.

Rajesh Sharma claimed that Aditya was later pressured to withdraw the complaint and was subjected to a hostile working environment, including long working hours.

In separate remarks to Indian media, Rajesh Sharma also alleged that the vessel’s captain had switched off the ship’s tracking system while operating in the region.

He claimed the ship’s location was not being transmitted and questioned why the vessel was taken towards the Strait of Hormuz putting the lives of 24 crew members in danger.

These allegations have not been independently verified, and no official findings from any investigation have been released.

The family has also criticised the shipping company, alleging that it provided little information following the incident. According to relatives, they spent hours trying to contact the company and learned many details through television reports and media coverage.

A relative said Aditya had been working on the vessel for the past six months and was still on probation.

“We want to know whether there was an attempt to rescue him or not,” the relative said.

Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal expressed sorrow over the loss of the three seafarers and said the government was committed to supporting their families.

He said officials had been directed to ensure the immediate repatriation of rescued crew members and the swift return of the mortal remains of the deceased.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu also expressed condolences and directed the district administration to provide all possible assistance to the family.

The MEA said it had formally protested the incident with the United States. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India places high importance on the welfare and well-being of its seafarers and had raised the matter with the American side following the attack on MT Settebello.

According to figures cited in media reports, around 20,000 seafarers remain aboard vessels operating in the region as restrictions affect movement through the Strait of Hormuz.

Rajesh Sharma urged authorities to ensure shipping companies avoid sending vessels through the strait until conditions improve.

References: newindianexpress, ndtv