- Indian sailors stuck in China since June last year, due to the global pandemic, are set to return home.
- Indian seafarers will reach Chiba Port, Japan on January 14, and after following the due procedure of COVID protocols—they will fly back to India.
- MV Jag Anand has been on anchorage near Jingtang port since June 13.
Twenty three seafarers stranded aboard Indian vessel m.v. Jag Anand off the Chinese coast for the past 10 months are likely to return to India by January 14, returns Business Standard.
Stranded seafarers to return home
Shipping and Ports Minister, Mansukh Mandaviya confirmed, that the Indian seafarers will reach Chiba Port, Japan on January 14, and after following the due procedure of COVID protocols—they will fly back to India.
“I deeply appreciate the humanitarian approach of the Great Eastern Shipping Company towards the seafarers, and standing by them in this crucial time,” said the minister.
“Ship MV Jag Anand, having 23 Indian crew, stuck in China, is set to sail toward Chiba, Japan, to carry out crew change, will reach India on 14th January,” Mr. Mandaviya tweeted. He added that once the crew members reach Chiba they will undergo COVID-19 related protocols and then fly to India.
However, as of Saturday evening, the ship was yet to leave the port because of a technical issue with the anchor though it was cleared by the Vessel Traffic Service.
Stranded vessels due to pandemic
The Indian bulk cargo vessel, carrying coal from Australia, has been stuck near the Jingtang port in Hebei province of China since June 13 as it was not allowed to dock by port authorities.
According to shipping industry sources, there are nearly 70 vessels similarly stuck off the coast of China with nearly 1,200 seamen of different nationalities stranded onboard.
However, there is yet no breakthrough for 35 other Indian seamen stranded aboard Italian ship m.v. Anastasia, Greek vessel m.v. Skopelos and Hong Kong-owned m.v. Declan Duff for over six months. Declan Duff is barely 3.5 nautical miles from Jag Anand at the Jingtang port.
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Source: Business Standard
