New Delhi: India has approached Pakistan for consular assistance after an Indian Merchant Navy officer and five fellow crew members were reported stuck on a cargo vessel at Karachi port for several months.
At the Ministry of External Affairs’ bi-weekly press interaction on Friday, official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said New Delhi was engaging with everyone involved in the case, including the seafarers themselves, the company that employed them, and the local representative of the shipping firm.
“We have been in touch with these people there, as well as their employer, namely the shipping company and its agent, and are trying to resolve the issue,” he said.
Jaiswal was responding to questions about the officer, whose relatives have publicly urged Indian authorities to intervene and bring him home. The officer and five other crew members have reportedly been unable to disembark at Karachi for an extended period.
According to the spokesperson, the core problem lies in an unresolved disagreement between the vessel’s owner and the people employed to operate it. He explained that maritime practice prevents the crew from walking away from the ship until another team is available to take over.
“Regarding the merchant navy personnel aboard the ship in Karachi, this is essentially a matter between the ship’s owner and the crew members. The employees cannot simply abandon the vessel. A replacement crew has to arrive before they can leave,” he said.
India, he added, has raised the case with Pakistan through a formal consular request while continuing discussions with the shipping company and its representatives.
“Essentially, this is a commercial issue between the shipping company and its employees,” he added.
