India, March 20 -- A young Indian sailor says he's been boiling water to drink, stuck aboard a small refuelling boat in the northern Gulf, within sight of the Iranian shore. He is among the handful of crew members who have not yet abandoned the vessel are making do with what they have. And that's less, each day, than the day before.

"We don't have enough water on board right now. We got food a few days back," Pereira, who asked to be identified only by his last name, told news agency AFP.

"Till yesterday we had proper drinking water and fresh water for baths and stuff. But now since drinking water is over, we have contacted the owner for the drinking water and I hope they get it by today or tomorrow. Till then, we are boiling the water ...