Lankan envoy in Kenya visits crew aboard vessel detained by Nigeria

High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in Kenya, Velupillai Kananathan, joined a consular visit to the vessel M/T Heroic IDUN, along with the High Commissioners/ Diplomats of India, Poland and the Philippines, on Nov 27.

Following the visit, the High Commissioner confirmed the Sri Lankan crew members were in excellent health. The Nigerian Navy is providing adequate security and all assistance on board, including food, medical and recreational facilities, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. The vessel is detained by the Nigerian authorities for entering the Nigerian Maritime Environment, in August, 2022. The next hearing of the trial is scheduled for Jan 11, 2023.

Authorities of Equatorial Guinea detained the very large crude carrier, on a request by the Nigerian Navy, on Aug 10, 2022 ,for entering the Nigerian Maritime Environment on Aug 07, 2022, without clearance.

Equatorial Guinea has returned the vessel to Nigeria and its 26 crew members, including 16 Indians, eight Lankans, one Pole, and one Filipino.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry and the High Commission would continue to monitor the situation, the Ministry said.