Sixteen Indian seafarers serving aboard the multipurpose offshore vessel AM Pioneer have refused to transit the Strait of Hormuz, saying that the current security situation presents an unacceptable risk to their lives.
The dispute between the crew and the vessel’s management has now drawn the involvement of the Forward Seamen's Union of India (FSUI), which is calling on Indian authorities to intervene.
According to the union, the shipowner and management have been pressing the master and crew to proceed through the Strait of Hormuz despite the continuing military threat in the region.
The seafarers have also reportedly objected to a proposed transit during hours of darkness with radio communications and the vessel’s Automatic Identification System (AIS) switched off.
Captain Anil Raj, master of AM Pioneer, said the vessel had arrived in Ras Al Khaimah for a scheduled inspection.
According to his account, the crew was initially told that the vessel would remain there and would proceed toward India only after safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz had been restored.
The situation later changed when the company allegedly instructed the vessel to make an urgent passage to Fujairah.
The captain claims that pressure has since been placed on him over the crew’s refusal and that attempts have been made to hold him responsible for the decision.
He also stated that the company had considered deploying armed security personnel onboard and had explored the possibility of obtaining aerial support from U.S. naval forces for the passage.
The crew, however, maintains that the vessel should not attempt the transit until authorities officially confirm that safe commercial navigation through the Strait of Hormuz has been restored.
The Forward Seamen's Union of India has asked the Indian government to step in and arrange the repatriation of all 16 seafarers.
The union is also seeking payment of wages and any compensation due to the crew under their employment contracts.
The case raises broader questions about the responsibilities of shipowners, masters and crew members when commercial vessels are instructed to operate in areas affected by military activity.
For seafarers, the Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most strategically important maritime routes, but periods of heightened regional tension can significantly increase the risks faced by commercial ships and their crews.
Decisions involving navigation through high-risk areas may include considerations such as crew safety, insurance requirements, security assessments, naval guidance, vessel tracking and emergency response capabilities.
The dispute aboard AM Pioneer also highlights the difficult position of a vessel’s master, who must balance instructions from the company with responsibility for the safety of the vessel and everyone onboard.
At the time of publication, no official response from the shipowner or management had been reported regarding the allegations made by the crew and the union.
AM Pioneer is a 73.2-metre multipurpose offshore vessel managed by Alphard Maritime Private Limited, based in Mumbai.
For now, the 16 Indian seafarers remain firm in their position that the vessel should not proceed through the Strait of Hormuz until conditions are considered safe for commercial navigation.
