Egypt allows partial crew exit from Russian tanker “Dignity”, captain still held video

Russian crew members stranded for six months aboard the detained tanker Dignity in Egypt have begun to be released, though the vessel’s captain remains on board without his documents, according to the SHOT Telegram channel.

The report says eight crew members have now received their international passports and seafarer books and are awaiting repatriation. However, the captain remains on the tanker after Egyptian authorities refused to return his passport, citing his status as the responsible party.

The captain described the situation as a serious violation of international maritime law and said he is seeking the return of his documents to issue a notarised power of attorney and leave the ship.

The vessel remains under detention by court order due to outstanding debts owed by Sphynx Shipping Agency to a private Egyptian maritime agency. The shipowner, Argo Tanker Group — sanctioned last year by the United States and the European Union as part of a so-called “shadow fleet” — has reportedly not responded to inquiries.

Earlier accounts from crew members, cited by Maritime News of Russia, indicated that nine out of 23 sailors remained on board as of March 12, all from different regions of Russia. They said their passports and seafarer documents had been confiscated and described conditions on the vessel as critical: fuel supplies had been exhausted, food was spoiling due to lack of electricity, and wages had gone unpaid for several months.

According to the Russian Seafarers’ Union, the crew qualifies as abandoned under the Maritime Labour Convention, as the shipowner is facing possible bankruptcy and is unable to meet its obligations, including paying salaries. Under the convention, responsibility for repatriation and wage payments falls to the insurance provider.

While the designated insurer has expressed readiness to repatriate the crew, Egyptian authorities had delayed the process, citing maritime safety requirements.

Following multiple complaints, Sphynx Shipping Agency returned passports and seafarer books to eight crew members. However, the captain’s documents remain withheld pending the outcome of legal proceedings.

The sailors now expect that the insurance company will soon arrange their return home and pay outstanding wages for January, February, and March.

By Tamilla Hasanova