Sailors aboard the MV Abdullah, a vessel seized by Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean, are grappling with skin diseases.
Despite adequate food supplies, there is a critical shortage of fresh water on board.
Water rationing is in place to ensure the stored water lasts, and sailors are only able to shower once or twice a week. Moreover, the ship has run out of first aid kits.
In addition to these challenges, armed pirates remain vigilant day and night. However, due to the prolonged captivity, a rapport has developed between the sailors and the pirates.
As a result, sailors are no longer subjected to the same level of abuse as before and are allowed to remain in their cabins. They continue to carry out regular ship duties.
According to Shamsuddin, a staff on MV Abdullah, who conveyed on Saturday the situation to his relatives, the sailors are managing despite the adversities.
His brother-in-law Badrul Islam said that Shamsuddin communicates with them every day or two, assuring them of their well-being. While food supplies remain, there has been a decrease, and pirates no longer consume food meant for the sailors but bring their supplies from the coast.
Concerns loom over the sailors' release from captivity. Family members have reached out to SR Shipping officials, who have assured them of ongoing efforts to secure the sailors' release.
Atiq U A Khan, captain of a commercial seagoing vessel, disclosed that most sailors aboard MV Abdullah are afflicted with skin diseases, with no access to medical prescriptions.
He highlighted the acute shortage of fresh water, which is available only twice a week, necessitating the use of seawater during other times.
M Anam Chowdhury, president of the Bangladesh Merchant Marine Officers' Association (BMMOA), revealed that while an agreement between the ship owner and the pirates for the sailors' release has been finalized, several steps remain. The timeline for their release is contingent upon various processes, which could take anywhere from one to four weeks.
Mizanul Islam, media advisor for Kabir Group, reassured that negotiations with the pirates are ongoing, expressing hope for the sailors' imminent release.
MV Abdullah, owned by SR Shipping under Kabir Group, was transporting 55,000 tons of coal from Mozambique to Hamriyah port in the United Arab Emirates. However, it fell into the hands of pirates in the Indian Ocean on March 12. Built in 2016, MV Abdullah is one of 24 vessels under SR Shipping, formerly known as Golden Hawk before changing ownership last year.
