Indian crew stranded off Türkiye for months
The Mongalia-flagged cargo ship "Azra C" lies at anchor in the Sea of Marmara off Istanbul on June 4, 2026. (AFP)
Four Indian sailors have been stranded for months on an abandoned container ship off Istanbul, unable to leave under maritime rules requiring the vessel to remain manned.
In a message sent to AFP, the stranded crew members said they were losing hope after 10 months trapped on board the Mongolia-flagged AZRA C that has been moored in the Marmara Sea since August 2025.
The ship’s purported owners were arrested in January in connection with a massive international drugs bust, leaving its fate and those on board in limbo.
