23 Indian sailors stuck in China to return on Jan 14

TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

NEW DELHI, JANUARY 9

One batch of India seafarers stuck for nearly six months off the coast of China will be returning to the country on January 14, Minister of State for Ports, Shipping & Waterways Mansukh Mandaviya said in a social media post.

One of the ships, MV Jag Anand with 23 Indian crew, is set to sail toward Chiba in Japan to carry out crew change. It will then reach India on January 14, he said.

The Ministry of External Affairs had been continuously following up the issue with the Chinese authorities. This week, Indian Ambassador to China Vikram Misri had taken up this issue with the Chinese Vice Foreign Minister and requested for an early approval for crew change for Indian crew members aboard two ships — MV Jag Anand and MV Anastasia.

Mandaviya said the return was possible due to the strong leadership of PM Narendra Modi. He also deeply appreciated the humanitarian approach of the Great Eastern Shipping Company towards the seafarers and for standing by them in this crucial time.

The released ship was in anchorage since June 13. Another ship, MV Anastasia with 18 Indians, is still stuck at Caofeidian anchorage since August 3.

The shipping companies had to comply with China’s strict pandemic control and prevention measures as well as various travel restrictions in place.

Moved by the plight of the seafarers, industrialist Naveen Jindal had offered to buy the coal on the ships for his steel plants so that the sailors could be moved to Indian ports along with the cargo.

“We are ready to buy the coal on these ships if it can help bring our sailors back home,” he had posted on the social media.

About six dozen ships, carrying Australian coal and manned by foreign seafarers, have been waiting outside the Chinese ports since June last year. Beijing has refused to let them unload but importers and ship charterers want the ships to wait.