Trauma Management Care unit for seafarers held in captivity

Reaching out to the affected families and treating the seafarers after their release to ensure a quick recovery from the psychological trauma is the objective of the unit which will be mobile and consist of psychoanalysts, trained to deal with such cases involving piracy inflicted scars.

Drawing attention to an increasing number of seafarers hit by piracy in Somalian waters and the ruthless treatment meted out to them in captivity, Captain A Gole, secretary, Company of Master Mariners of India, (CMMI) Pune chapter, said, "As per our data till February this year, as many as 47 Indian seafarers are in captivity of Somalian pirates and efforts are being made to secure their release."

The TMCU conceived for seafarers is the outcome of a joint venture of three merchant navy related institutions - CMMI, Institute of Marine Engineers (IME), Pune, and Indian Maritime Foundation (IMF).

"A seafarer is a rugged person who is used to the rough and tough sea life and is always ready to brave a storm. But being taken in captivity and subjected to torture and starvation is a different proposition and, therefore, a mental trauma care is necessary," said Gole elaborating on the requirement of such a unit. (MORE)