The 21 crew members of the bulk carrier Debi have staged a sit-in protest at India’s Paradip Port, demanding immediate action from authorities to end their year-long detention.

The crew, held since December 2023, refuses to work and wants authorities to pay attention to their ongoing plight in a drug smuggling investigation.

The vessel, managed by Asia Pacific Shipping Co. of Hanoi, Vietnam, was detained after Indian authorities found 22 kg of cocaine hidden in the ship’s cranes.

The drugs, valued at $26 million, were found during a routine inspection and reportedly attached with magnets to concealed areas of the cranes. The ship, registered in Panama, was arrested in February 2024, and a court ordered its sale in September 2024.

Authorities have been investigating to determine when and where the drugs were loaded and if any crewmembers were involved.

The Debi had previously stopped in Egypt and Indonesia before arriving in India on November 30, 2023, with a cargo of steel plate bound for Denmark.

During their detention, the crew faced isolation after their cell phones and computers were taken away, cutting off communication with their families in Vietnam.

This week, after the ship was moved to the dock for refuelling, the crew protested, preventing it from returning to anchorage. Port authorities have begun discussions to resolve the standoff.

The crew’s struggles began early in their detention. In January 2024, one of the engineers jumped overboard after an argument onboard, raising concerns about mental health and morale. He was rescued and hospitalised.

The Debi remains docked at the Paradip International Cargo Terminal, with the crew awaiting a resolution to their ordeal.