![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EGV67LTD2VZABJ4FZKWBQFAOTI.jpg?smart=true&auth=1978d36a30ef1dd2d23013fb89b548044518bf9e335fffc74c646e67c60ba5e9&width=400&height=225)
Sailors on board MT Iba have been stranded at sea for almost four years after the vessel’s owner hit hard times. Chris Whiteoak / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JGW4J75YIZGS7LYL4L7NSWJPQ4.jpeg?smart=true&auth=a4bf008ea44f26bf8d5eb38f5d8b91bcafd21bd9f66ed43698aa83811744e2bb&width=400&height=225)
Indian sailor Dhiraj Jha, pictured right, on his way to Mumbai with friends, was exploited by rogue shipping agents while on board a vessel in Iran.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3GEEPDUHYJFOLMJRPHAI46PZDI.jpeg?smart=true&auth=8a4612f3f74adcb24c372c379d0018c4386ec558b5296d1e262591269150b28b&width=400&height=225)
He was given basic rations and not paid for six months.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YGG4UM2DLFGMTJ26KTAGH2CAD4.jpeg?smart=true&auth=6f07c891de84563970eaa20257e2eb2697c15ec2561bcd76e5295b2a9c229334&width=400&height=225)
He was told he would be working on board a chemical tanker in Bandar Abbas, but was sent to work on other ships instead.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JKDDFLPV5BE37TBSOVQ73UBEHM.png?smart=true&auth=1a15e251a1501bbcc3baa26fde549075ae405bc3dad43b4810f56ea99257c95d&width=400&height=225)
Crew on the Mt Iba were anchored four miles off the UAE coast and drifted ashore in a storm when their ship was abandoned by its owner in 2021. Photo: NW
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NR5MK65ZEXITW43FE4XLKKO7AY.jpg?smart=true&auth=c24f0569ad01a65de5301786e25024180f9727c71a58b5fe6829c50d262281a8&width=400&height=225)
The Mt Iba oil tanker ran aground off the public beach in Umm Al Quwain. Chris Whiteoak / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EGV67LTD2VZABJ4FZKWBQFAOTI.jpg?smart=true&auth=1978d36a30ef1dd2d23013fb89b548044518bf9e335fffc74c646e67c60ba5e9&width=400&height=225)
Sailors on board MT Iba have been stranded at sea for almost four years after the vessel’s owner hit hard times. Chris Whiteoak / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JGW4J75YIZGS7LYL4L7NSWJPQ4.jpeg?smart=true&auth=a4bf008ea44f26bf8d5eb38f5d8b91bcafd21bd9f66ed43698aa83811744e2bb&width=400&height=225)
Indian sailor Dhiraj Jha, pictured right, on his way to Mumbai with friends, was exploited by rogue shipping agents while on board a vessel in Iran.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3GEEPDUHYJFOLMJRPHAI46PZDI.jpeg?smart=true&auth=8a4612f3f74adcb24c372c379d0018c4386ec558b5296d1e262591269150b28b&width=400&height=225)
He was given basic rations and not paid for six months.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YGG4UM2DLFGMTJ26KTAGH2CAD4.jpeg?smart=true&auth=6f07c891de84563970eaa20257e2eb2697c15ec2561bcd76e5295b2a9c229334&width=400&height=225)
He was told he would be working on board a chemical tanker in Bandar Abbas, but was sent to work on other ships instead.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JKDDFLPV5BE37TBSOVQ73UBEHM.png?smart=true&auth=1a15e251a1501bbcc3baa26fde549075ae405bc3dad43b4810f56ea99257c95d&width=400&height=225)
Crew on the Mt Iba were anchored four miles off the UAE coast and drifted ashore in a storm when their ship was abandoned by its owner in 2021. Photo: NW
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NR5MK65ZEXITW43FE4XLKKO7AY.jpg?smart=true&auth=c24f0569ad01a65de5301786e25024180f9727c71a58b5fe6829c50d262281a8&width=400&height=225)
The Mt Iba oil tanker ran aground off the public beach in Umm Al Quwain. Chris Whiteoak / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EGV67LTD2VZABJ4FZKWBQFAOTI.jpg?smart=true&auth=1978d36a30ef1dd2d23013fb89b548044518bf9e335fffc74c646e67c60ba5e9&width=400&height=225)
Sailors on board MT Iba have been stranded at sea for almost four years after the vessel’s owner hit hard times. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Seafarers warned against rogue recruitment agents charging fees
Charity's survey shows 37 per cent of crew exploited for cash or had passports held
![Nick Webster](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F9cfba7f3-8cc8-4789-bcec-97bd0007d9ef.png?smart=true&auth=96a9a5766af20e4704e52306e74ecd02669a7e0ffd084d4151d31e0039a945d3&width=70&height=70)
Nick Webster
17 April, 2023
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