The Heroic Idun
“We were very worried about our families and we could only look forward to somehow getting off the ship and getting home.”
A crew of 16 Indians, eight Sri Lankans, one Polish and one Filipino national had been detained by Nigerian authorities, accused of attempted oil theft and faking a piracy attack.
Both officers and crew were in touch with the CRN team over the phone and asked for help. The Indian crew members particularly wanted Sailors’ Society to support their families until they were released.
This became crucial when their phones were confiscated by the Nigerian authorities. So, the CRN team sought out their families in the Kochin, Mumbai and Bhubaneshwar regions of India.
Among those awaiting the return of their husbands, sons, brothers and fathers was Stephania who insisted on waiting for her father Able Seaman Xavier Braisvanto to come home before celebrating her fourth birthday.
She would be nearly five before this happened.
Our support both for the crew and their families continued for the 10 months the seafarers were detained, held under armed guard, confined to their ship and through the postponement of several. 304 days of trauma and silence for the families back home.
We spoke to the seafarers whenever we could – but their phones were taken away, leaving them with no contact with the outside world.
The crew, from India, Sri Lanka, Poland and the Philippines, were desperate and some became sick.
“We went through a very difficult time,” said Xavier.
“We were very worried about our families and we could only look forward to somehow getting off the ship and getting home.
“I was devastated on my daughter’s birthday. She is very small, and I was upset that I missed her birthday. I am so happy that Sailors’ Society was there to support my family.”
Then in June 2023, members of our Crisis Response Network were there to greet the crew in Cape Town after they were finally released.
CRN team member, Boet van Schalkwyk, said:
“Though the crew were in good heart, delighted to be free and heading home, they had clearly undergone a traumatic and drawn-out ordeal.
“They really appreciated our support for them and their families throughout this time and are looking forward to this continuing when they get home to their families.”
The team then stayed in contact, on hand for when any unresolved psychological distress surfaced.
They were also on hand as Stephania finally celebrated her birthday.
Other CRN case studies
Piracy
In October 2016, the survivors of the Taiwan-owned fishing vessel, Naham 3, were finally released after being held for almost five years by Somali pirates. Traumatised and malnourished, Sailors’ Society CRN team were on hand to help.
Bereavement trauma
In July 2017, the fishing vessel, the Maredon, on her maiden voyage, capsized off the Eastern Cape of Africa. The 16-man crew were terrified.
War
Too terrified to sleep in their cabins after coming under attack from Houthi rebels in the Red Sea, the crew of the oil tanker huddled together in corridors.
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