MUMBAI: A 54-year-old Indian seafarer from Mumbai has died after the oil tanker he was serving on came under attack near Iraq’s southern port city of Basra.India’s Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways confirmed in a statement on 12 March that one Indian crew member had died in the incident.
Who was Deonandan Prasad Singh?
Deonandan Prasad Singh was residing in Kandivli, Mumbai and was working as an additional chief engineer aboard the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker MT Safesea Vishnu when it was struck near Khor Al Zubair Port on Wednesday, according to India’s Directorate General of Shipping.
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Officials said Singh suffered severe injuries during the attack and later died.“Singh sustained severe injuries during the incident and later succumbed to them. Authorities and relevant maritime agencies have been informed, and an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attack is underway,” a ministry official said.Following the incident, the tanker’s crew abandoned the vessel and entered the water. They were later rescued by an STS tug.The Iraqi Coast Guard evacuated all 28 crew members — including 16 Indians and 12 Filipinos — and brought them safely to the port of Basra.
25 years of experience in marine engineering
Singh, who had nearly 25 years of experience in marine engineering, had reportedly not been sailing for several years and was working in a shore-based role before he returned to sea.His family said he had moved to a desk job more than seven years ago but was asked to rejoin ship duty shortly before the conflict in the region escalated.“Despite having stopped sailing and having taken a shore desk job, he was sent to join the ship as per a contract clause,” a family member said.“He joined the vessel in Iraq just three days before the war began when the US and Israel attacked Iran on 28 February.”The family said Singh died less than two weeks after boarding the vessel.Relatives also said Singh originally hailed from Rani Bamia village in Sonhaula block of Bihar’s Bhagalpur district.“A company official called us around 5 am and informed us about the attack and my brother’s death,” His brother Krishnanandan Prasad Singh said.
‘The suicidal ship’
Family members told news agency PTI, the vessel carrying Singh was allegedly targeted by an Iranian “suicidal ship” during the hostilities in the region.In an attempt to save his life, Singh jumped into the sea, they said.“Rescue teams tried their best to save him, but they could not succeed,” Singh said. Singh and other family members left for Delhi after receiving the information.Singh is survived by a son and a daughter. His son, who lives in the United States, has also left for India after learning about the incident, relatives said.The Directorate General of Shipping office in Mumbai did not comment on the matter.The shipping company managing the vessel — Executive Management or Bravo Shipping Management — did not respond to requests for comment. The management of MT Safesea Vishnu and associated stakeholders expressed condolences to Singh’s family.A condolence message was also posted by the alumni association of BIT Sindri, where Singh had studied.
