Chirag Bahri was 28 years old and working as a second engineer on a chemical tanker when Somali pirates seized the ship on 8 May 2010. He and his 21 crewmates were held hostage for seven months and 20 days, enduring physical and psychological torture. Bahri survived, but the experience changed his life forever. Today, he works to support other seafarers and their families affected by piracy.
The Hijacking
The Marida Marguerite was 120 miles off the coast of Oman, transporting benzene from Kandla Port in India to Antwerp in Belgium. Piracy was a known threat in the Indian Ocean, with Somalis armed with AK-47s in fast skiffs targeting commercial vessels. The ship was slow, doing 13 knots, while the pirates' skiffs could reach 25 knots. The crew had no defense except razor wire and luck.
Bahri was in the engine room when skiffs were spotted. He began zigzagging the ship to deter the pirates, but they fired rocket-propelled grenades and scaled the razor wire. Within minutes, six pirates reached the bridge. The crew of 22 men—19 Indians, two Bangladeshis, and a Ukrainian—were summoned. A helicopter flew overhead but was too late; the pirates fired into the air, and the captain was ordered to head for Somalia.
Life in Captivity
When Bahri arrived at the bridge, the pirates shouted at him to sit down. “I was terrified. I thought, my God, this is the end,” he recalls. The crew sat on the floor, some crying, others comforting each other. Initially, they were positive, believing their company would pay a ransom. The pirates started negotiations wanting $15 million.
For 20 days, the crew was kept on the bridge. The engineering crew maintained the engines in 12-hour watches, escorted by guards. The pirates suspected every intercom phone was a satellite phone. After 20 days, they were moved to four cabins. Bahri was allowed to phone home only four times in eight months. He spoke in Hindi, telling the pirates his family didn't speak English. His mother could only cry during the calls.
Torture and Despair
At the end of August, physical torture began. On 9 September, Bahri was accused of hiding a satellite phone. He was hog-tied with nylon rope, his genitals tied with cable ties, and left in the full sun for four hours. “When they released me, for five minutes I was still in that position – I couldn’t bring my hands or legs down,” he says. His left hand was half-paralysed for about a month.
The beatings continued, and Bahri stopped sleeping from terror. He tried to learn Somali and found one friendlier pirate. By October, negotiations resumed, and a $5 million ransom was agreed. On 27 December, the money was airdropped into the sea. The pirates divided it on board, and after seven hours, they left. Bahri prepared the engines to sail without tugs, as a matter of pride.
Aftermath and Healing
The journey back to Salalah, Oman, took about a week. From there, Bahri flew to Delhi, where he learned his mother had died from stress during his captivity. He felt profound guilt. His wife had also left him. He suffered physical after-effects, including back and head spasms and a reduced sperm count. He had sleepless nights and bad dreams.
Negative comments from friends made him realize the lack of awareness about piracy. He began contacting families of hostages and telling his story publicly. He worked with the International Transport Workers' Federation and the Maritime Piracy Humanitarian Response Programme (MPHRP), which supports hostages and their families. Today, he continues this work, recently helping families of the crew of the oil tanker Honour 25, held for five months.
Bahri has remarried and has two young children. He says helping others has been healing. “It has helped me a lot. Because when I meet seafarers and their family members, I help bring smiles to their faces. I know at least something good has happened.” He would support his son if he wanted to work at sea. “I keep sharing my stories with my son about shipping. If he wanted to, I would definitely like that.”
