The Indian Express (Delhi Edition)
Woman aboard ship seized by Iran returns to Kerala
THE ONLY woman crew member on the Israel-linked cargo ship seized by Iran returned to her native Kerala on Thursday.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard commandos had seized the ship near the Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf of Oman on April 13. It was carrying a 25-member crew, 17 of whom were Indians.
Ann Tessa Joseph said her release was unexpected. “On Wednesday evening, I was told to pack up and get ready to move out of the ship, which was anchored. It was totally unexpected. I was released because I was the only woman among the 25-member crew. From the ship, they took me to the shore by a pilot boat. I was told not to reveal the rest of the route of the journey to Kerala,’’ she said.
Hailing from Kottayam district, Joseph had joined the MSC Aries as a crew member nine months ago.
Following her release, Joseph landed at Kochi airport on Thursday,whereshewasreceived by the Regional Passport Officer.
The BSC Nautical Science graduate said this was her first job. “This incident has not deterred me from continuing in this profession. The job of a seafarer has been my dream. I had joined this profession anticipating these types of developments and experiences. We have to move ahead in life and profession, instead of getting scared or abandoning a dream job. My family is giving me full support,” she said.
Recalling the day when the ship was seized by the Iran military, Joseph said, “We were all caught off guard. We were not familiar with tension building up between Israel and Iran. On that morning (on April 13), there was an alert that the ship was captured. I was at the cabin, getting ready to report for duty as deck aide. We were all then taken to the deck, where all our phones were seized by the military. Then, we were all allowed to return to our cabins,” she said.
Joseph said Iranian officials did not give the crew any specific reason for the seizure of the ship. “Initially, they said we had violated their territorial waters. Then, they said our ship is related to Israel,” she said.
She said the behaviour of the military personnel was cordial: “They allowed us to cook. There was no harassment. Two days after the capture of the ship, our phones were given back.”