Indian Sailor's Harrowing Escape from War Zone After Being Stranded Without Documents
In a chilling account of survival, 28-year-old merchant sailor Rex Perreira from Mira Bhayandar has returned home after being trapped for over a month in a war zone in Iraq, where bombs fell perilously close to his vessel. The ordeal began with what seemed like a routine assignment but quickly spiraled into a life-threatening nightmare.
A Routine Assignment Turns into a Nightmare
Perreira left for Dubai in October 2025 for internal work aboard the supply vessel Diva, sent by an agent. However, without a formal contract, he was soon directed to Sharjah and then onward to Iraq. "The moment we reached the border, the captain abandoned the ship. We were just four Indians left in charge," Perreira recounted, highlighting the sudden abandonment that left them vulnerable.
Stranded Without Communication or Documents
By February 17, the vessel reached Basra port in Iraq, where the crew found themselves completely stranded. They had no passports or continuous discharge certificates, essential documents for any sailor. "We couldn't disembark even if we wanted to. We had no documents, no contract, nothing to prove why we were there," Perreira explained, emphasizing their helpless situation.
The ship itself was in a dire state, described as practically scrap with no WiFi, unreliable generators, frequent engine failures, and inadequate supplies. "We were hungry for a couple of days. We had to cook using diesel and gas on an oil tanker, which is risky," he added, painting a picture of the harsh conditions onboard.
Bombs Fall Near the Ship During Intense Conflict
Between March 2 and April 5, as tensions escalated into war, Perreira remained stuck at Basra port. The situation reached its peak from March 9 to 11, with continuous explosions rocking the area. "Bombs fell near and around the ship, causing vibrations across it. One landed barely 5 km away," he said, describing the terrifying proximity of the conflict. He noted that many other ships were similarly stranded, each with 2-3 Indian crew members onboard.
Near-Fatal Incident and Communication Blackout
Even before the war started, Perreira faced a near-fatal incident just off Basra port. Despite assurances of a steering role, he was posted in the engine room, which exploded due to a mechanical error. "The engine had overheated, and we warned deck officers not to restart it. They tried many times anyway. When they tried again without informing us, it exploded. I sustained minor burns, and the engine room was destroyed," he narrated.
Communication was nearly impossible, with only fleeting cellular signals and a patchy VHF radio available. This made reaching authorities for help extremely difficult, compounding their isolation.
Struggle for Assistance and Family Anxiety
Appeals to the Indian embassy initially yielded little due to the lack of documentation. "We kept calling, requesting assistance, but without papers, there was little they could do," Perreira said. It was only after sustained efforts that emergency letters were issued, enabling visas for Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
Back home, his family endured immense anxiety. "If we didn't hear from him every hour, we'd start worrying," said his father, Chester Perreira, a retired shipbuilder with over four decades of service in the defence ministry.
Arduous Escape and Aftermath
After finally receiving his documents on April 1, Perreira embarked on a grueling escape. With no official transport available, he traveled by road towards the Safwan border, relying on the kindness of strangers. "Some Indians near the border helped me onto a bus to Saudi," he shared. From there, a 17-hour journey to Riyadh followed before he could board a flight home, landing in Mumbai at 3 pm on Tuesday.
In the aftermath, a source from the directorate general of shipping revealed that the licence of the Goa-based shipping agency, Ouvert Marine Solutions Pvt Ltd, which had hired Perreira, has been suspended. Manoj Yadav, general secretary of Forward Seamen's Union of India, called the episode symptomatic of a larger problem. "These agents who try to recruit sailors run an interconnected, highly advanced racket," he said, adding that 42 vessels carrying Indian sailors remain stuck at Iranian ports.
This harrowing tale underscores the vulnerabilities faced by merchant sailors in conflict zones and the critical need for proper documentation and oversight in the shipping industry.
