Africa-Press – Mozambique. Nine Indonesian crewmen can finally breathe a sigh of relief. They have been successfully released from the gas tanker Falcon after being stranded in Mozambique, Southern Africa, for nearly a year.
The crew’s situation had been concerning as they were unable to leave the vessel. The ship was seized by court order in October 2024 due to legal issues involving the ship’s owner.
Indonesian Ambassador to Mozambique, Kartika Chandra Negara, assured that the crewmen are now in good condition. They arrived in Beira on Saturday, September 20, 2025, and were immediately taken to Maputo.
“The nine crewmen are in good shape after landing on Saturday afternoon. We are working to get them tickets back to Indonesia for Wednesday, September 24, 2025,” said Kartika during an interview with Pro 3 RRI on Monday, September 22, 2025.
Initially, the crew was confined because the ship was not permitted to move. They also hadn’t received their salaries since October of the previous year. “We received their complaint in January 2025. At that time, we were able to get them three months’ worth of back pay, but the rest has not been paid yet,” added Chandra.
The Indonesian Embassy spent months working with Mozambican authorities and pressured the ship’s owner to arrange a crew change so the old crew could disembark. “We regularly sent them supplies daily. Physically, they were healthy, but psychologically, they were under extreme pressure,” said Chandra.
Currently, the crewmen are staying at the Indonesia House in Maputo, where their mental well-being is being restored through companionship and a sense of family. “We prepared nasi padang for them for a shared lunch. They were happy, and we joked with them to help them relax,” he said.
Despite their release, the crew still has to fight for their nine months of unpaid wages. Legal proceedings are ongoing to ensure they receive their due compensation.
Chandra emphasized that the embassy’s duty goes beyond just repatriation. Maintaining good relations with local authorities was key to the success of a diplomatic mission. “Our contacts with the port authority, immigration, and police were very helpful. And those relationships must be maintained,” he said.
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