Six Indian seafarers stranded at Karachi port are safe: Govt source

New Delhi: All six Indian seafarers stranded aboard a general cargo ship at Karachi Port are safe, and formalities are under way to allow six relief crew members to board the vessel, a senior government official said on Thursday.

The six seafarers, including Vineet Kishor Mishra, are aboard the ship KEVER, which has been stranded at the Pakistani port following a dispute between the vessel's owners and port authorities. Further details of the dispute were not immediately available.

The official said the vessel was safely berthed at Berth No. 21 at West Wharf, Karachi Port. However, the owners are awaiting formal clearance from the port authorities to allow the relief crew to embark.

“The manning agency has submitted the requisite request for the embarkation of six relief seafarers, who are fully processed and ready to board upon receipt of clearance,” the official said.

The six relief crew members are already staying at a hotel in Pakistan and are ready to join the vessel once permission is granted.

The official added that round-the-clock coordination was being maintained with the vessel's owners and crew members, with the situation under close monitoring.

Letters have also been sent to all relevant stakeholders, including the Indian High Commission in Pakistan, with a copy to the Pakistan-Afghanistan-Iran division of the Ministry of External Affairs.

The official reiterated that all six Indian seafarers were safe and that the relief crew's embarkation remained subject to formal clearance from the port authorities.