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Kochi sailor who endured Equatorial Guinea’s detention feels relieved with international tribunal’s verdict
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Sanu Jose | Mr. Jose, a native of Elamkulam in Ernakulam, says the recent judgment of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) against Equatorial Guinea over the detention of the cargo ship MT Heroic Idun in mid-August 2022 has infused fresh confidence in the sailing community.Mr. Jose was the chief officer of Heroic Idun when the vessel was detained by Equatorial Guinea on charge of violating their territorial waters and attempt to steal crude oil. The vessel had a 26-member crew including 16 Indians, eight Sri Lankans, and one person each from Philippines and Poland. An SOS video sent by Mr. Jose from onboard the detained ship had grabbed wider attention and prompted government interventions.They were later handed over to the Nigerian navy and were released in May 2023. The detainees were let off reportedly after Idun Maritime Limited, the company that owned the vessel, paid penalty running into millions and apologised to the Nigerian government.However, the government of Marshall Islands later moved the ITLOS, headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, questioning the detention of its ship and secured a favourable verdict on Wednesday (May 27, 2026). As per the verdict, Equatorial Guinea had violated the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) by intercepting and detaining the Marshall Islands-registered Heroic Idun and its crew.The Special Chamber reportedly awarded Marshall Islands more than $14 million in compensation for the unlawful acts of Equatorial Guinea, including in excess of $4 million for mistreatment of the crew. This is the largest amount ever awarded by ITLOS.Elated over the international judicial order, Mr. Jose said it had erased a black mark in his career. “The shipping company went for out of court settlement to save the ship and the crew at the earliest. However, even after being released I found it difficult to find peace of mind as it kept recurring within me that we were met with injustice. We were branded as oil thieves and accused of attempting to undermine Equatorial Guinea’s economy. All these while we knew we did nothing illegal. The latest verdict has come as a huge relief, and it gives confidence to other captains too,” he said.After being released, Mr. Jose went back to his former company which elevated him as captain. He now works with an oil and gas major. Two of his then colleagues from Kerala — V. Vijith from Kollam and Milton De Coth from Kochi — who were also detained with him continue to be in sailing, he said.Mr. Jose had attended the trial in Hamburg in October 2025.Welcoming the judgment, Marshall Islands, meanwhile, said it was important for that country to bring the case forward “to protect the fundamental rules and principles of law for flag States, the humane and fair treatment of seafarers, the safety of vessels and the marine environment, and all engaged in international maritime trade. This judgment reaffirms the paramount importance of freedom of navigation and the principle of exclusive flag State jurisdiction on the high seas,” Meredith Kirby, Deputy Commissioner of Maritime Affairs, Marshall Islands, said in a statement. Published - May 31, 2026 01:43 am IST
The mural on the wall of the Naval Base | Stretching 1.3 kilometers along the wall of the Kochi Naval Base (from the Udaan gate to the Vembanad Gate), a massive mural depicting India’s maritime history is taking shape. A collaborative project by the Better Kochi Response Group (BKRG), Regional Sports Centre and the Indian Navy, the Kochi Naval wall art will portray India’s sealinks from ancient times to modern day. Involving local artists, businesses and governmental organisations, this initiative banks on Kochi’s appetite for art to create a meaningful mural conveying India’s maritime legacy. An artist working on the mural | Chairman of the project, retired Vice Admiral Prem Suthan, says the story of India’s seafaring history will unfold through the paintings. “It will be of interest to the public to see how India’s oceanic history has been narrated in the form of murals. The narrative will touch upon the ancient, medevial and Vedic histories until modern history,” he says.“A project such as this requires extensive research. We formed a committee of historians, who collected data relevant to the subject that could translate into paintings. They went through a lot of material, visited the maritime history museum in Kochi and the Navy was of great help, providing information and access to books, which helped develop the theme,” says S Gopakumar, architect, artist and founder of the BKRG. Artistic curator Cyril P Jacob, co-founder of Palette People Artists Residency, which is executing the project, chose Malayali artists who were familiar with mural art and were comfortable painting outdoors. “Painting murals requires a different skill set. The artists had to endure the harsh summer sun to while working,” says Cyril. An artist working on the mural | Artists Sheeba Joshi, AT Pushpangathan, K Gopakumar, TL Joshi, Ratheesh Thadikkaran and Jobin Joseph have taken immense care to paint the 15 panels in less than 20 days, adds Cyril. As the work continues, more artists would be added to the fray, adds Cyril. An artist painting the mural | Beside each painting will be an information panel including a brief history of the painting, name of the artist and sponsor. Considering its potential to attract tourists, a wider walkway along the wall is being planned, with lighting and an audio narration of the paintings. Published - May 15, 2026 12:26 pm IST
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