Acknowledgement

WE wish to thank and acknowledge the efforts of all the parties who were responsible for making this mission successful. Our thanks to K.P. Fabian and his team at the Ministry of External Affairs; the Ministry of Shipping; the Indian Navy; the Iraqi authorities; S.M. Mathur and officials at the Indian Embassy in Kuwait; Joe Monteiro; Capt. Matthews, Nautical Surveyor, Port of Shuwaikh; Frank Rosario of our agency in Kuwait; the Indian community in Kuwait and Dubai, the Dubai police; the Dubai immigration authorities; Peter Mathias and all our office staff in Dubai and Mumbai; and Dr Kinnikar for their help and dedication without which this mission could not have been accomplished.

Special thanks

To my mentor, and senior colleague, the late Capt. Ibrahim Hussain Modak, for his continuous support, encouragement and guidance during the extremely stressful period when the Safeer was detained in Kuwait. I interacted with him regularly in strategising an action plan and kept him apprised of the day-to-day progress of events as they unfolded.

I was travelling between Mumbai, New Delhi and Dubai during this period in order to conclude negotiations with the Iraqi consulate/authorities and the Ministry of External Affairs and to finalise arrangements with the Dubai immigration/police authorities for security measures and clearances for passengers in Dubai. Hanif Modak was fully involved in assisting me with all our efforts in Mumbai and played a major role in pacifying the family members of the crew.

Capt. Modak was in Dubai throughout and was attending to all matters pertaining to the rescue efforts at his end, ably supported by Peter Mathias, our Dubai office manager.

To the late L.D. Parekh and Suresh Parekh and Naresh Parekh of Parekh Marine Agencies, Mumbai, who assisted us in establishing contact with the MEA and rendered their expertise and help in our interaction with the MEA as well as trying other avenues for the release of the officers and crew.

To S.K. Mankad, Chairman of P & I Services, Mumbai, for supporting and guiding us in all matters relating to insurance policies of MV Safeer and interacting with underwriters and West of England P & I Club.

To Dr M.A. Patankar for giving us the first breakthrough by arranging a meeting with the Iraqi attache in Mumbai.

To the Master, officers and crew for their exemplary conduct, dedication and heroic efforts for reuniting the passengers with their families.