"The convicted crew members can approach the Madras High Court within 30 days for appealing against the verdict," Chandrasekar said. India's coast guard intercepted the ship off the coast of Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu in October 2013 and arrested and charged the crew for failing to have the proper paperwork to carry weapons in Indian waters.
Almost all of the crew, comprising six Britons, three Ukrainians, 14 Estonians and 12 Indians, were given bail in 2014 on the grounds they remained in the state capital Chennai.
The captain, a Ukrainian, and another officer from Britain were refused bail and remained in prison. US maritime security firm AdvanFort, which owns the Seaman Guard Ohio vessel, denies the charges against its crew, saying all firearms on board were legally purchased and properly documented. The southern tipof India is close to major trading routes from Asia to Europe and many cargo ships have armed guards and vessels to deter pirates. The British High Commission in Delhi told AFP it would continue to provide consular assistance to all six of its nationals but "we cannot interfere in another country's judicial process".