The 35 men from the US-owned 197-dwt operator support vesselSeaman Guard Ohio (built 1984) were arrested in October.

AdvanFort told TradeWinds earlier they were charged with illegallybuying subsidised fuel.

The company today described the court ruling as"outrageous".

It said: "The mystifying investigation by Indianauthorities has dragged on for two months already while AdvanFort's seamen andmaritime security contractors continue to languish in despicable and barbaricconditions at Indian prisons.

"Throughout