Kochi-based sailor Sanu Jose, who served as chief officer of the cargo vessel MT Heroic Idun, has expressed deep relief after an international tribunal ruled against Equatorial Guinea over the ship’s detention in 2022.

The vessel, carrying a 26-member multinational crew including 16 Indians, was intercepted in August 2022 and accused of violating territorial waters and attempting to steal crude oil.

Jose and his colleagues were detained for months, during which he sent an SOS video that drew international attention and led to diplomatic interventions.

The crew was later transferred to the Nigerian navy and eventually released in May 2023 after the shipping company reportedly reached a settlement, paid penalties, and issued an apology.However, the incident left lasting emotional distress on the sailors, who were publicly labelled as oil thieves despite maintaining their innocence.

The Government of Marshall Islands, flag state of the vessel, challenged the detention before the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) in Hamburg.

In its judgment delivered on May 27, 2026, the tribunal held that Equatorial Guinea had violated the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) by unlawfully intercepting and detaining the ship and its crew.

The tribunal awarded over 14 million dollars in compensation, including more than 4 million dollars for mistreatment of the crew, marking the largest compensation ever granted by ITLOS.Sanu Jose said the verdict has helped restore his sense of justice after years of mental stress and reputational damage.He noted that the ruling would strengthen confidence among seafarers globally.After his release, he resumed sailing, was promoted to captain, and currently works with an oil and gas company.He also attended the tribunal proceedings in Hamburg in October 2025.The ruling has been welcomed by the Marshall Islands as a strong reaffirmation of flag state jurisdiction and freedom of navigation at sea.