Mumbai-origin captain of tanker held up with 33-strong crew near Strait of Hormuz since March 2 says he watches missile drones fly overhead daily and hopes Indian Navy leads his tanker home safely
Captain Virendra Vishwakarma is commanding a tanker carrying enough LPG to fill 36 lakh domestic cylinders
A Dahisar East resident, Captain Virendra Vishwakarma, has been stuck at Mina Saqr, a major deep-water seaport near the Strait of Hormuz in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates, for over a week.
A missile flies above Captain Vishwakarma’s oil tanker, which is anchored near the Strait of Hormuz
The captain is commanding a tanker carrying enough liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to fill 36 lakh domestic cylinders. The vessel was loaded at Mina Al Ahmadi Port in Kuwait and was on its way to Deendayal Port, formerly known as Kandla Port in the Kutch district of Gujarat.
An oil tanker close to Captain Vishwakarma’s vessel goes up in flames on March 11. Pics/By Special Arrangement
Skipper speaks
Captain Virendra Vishwakarma,
‘We have enough food for about 60 days. Our company, GESCO, is supporting us and has assured us that it is in touch with the Navy and the relevant ministries are arranging for our rescue’
The predicament
When the vessel began its journey on March 2, its movement was restricted due to hostilities between Iran and Israel and the United States, which escalated on February 28, following which several vital sea routes were restricted. More than 200 vessels became stranded around the Strait of Hormuz.
Some of the 33 crew members aboard the vessel, which is carrying enough LPG to fill 36 lakh cylinders
Captain Vishwakarma, who is waiting for a naval convoy to escort the vessel to Indian waters safely, told mid-day, “Missiles and drones are flying in front of our eyes and sirens are continuously ringing. We are worried that anything can happen at any time.”
Wife’s worries
Nilpa Vishwakarma,
(From right) Captain Virendra Vishwakarma, his wife Nilpa and their children Nirvi and Vedansh in happier times. PICS/BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
‘I am praying that my husband and his crew reach home safely. I haven’t slept for days. My two children and I communicate over WhatsApp audio and video calls. Only an Internet connection is available on the vessel, and it sometimes does not work. I am keeping track of the news constantly’
Virendra Vishwakarma
Position: Captain of LPG tanker
Company: GESCO
Crew members on board: 33
Captain’s family
Wife: Nilpa Vishwakarma
Son: Vedansh (10)
Daughter: Nirvi (12)
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