- Chirag Bahri worked as an engineer on merchant vessels during a nearly decade-long career at sea.
- In 2010, his chemical tanker was held hostage by pirates for eight months.
- Now, he advocates for the safety and well-being of seafarers around the globe.
This as-told-to essay is based on conversations with Chirag Bahri, the International Operations Manager at the International Seafarers Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN). He was previously the Regional Director for South Asia for the Maritime Piracy Humanitarian Response Programme. His words have been edited for length and clarity.
I was 30 years old working as an engineer onboard a chemical tanker, the Marida Marguerite, sailing from India to Belgium. One month into the trip, we learned the ship would be adjusting course and sailing through the Gulf of Aden — a shipping route notorious for Somali pirates.
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