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MEA said Indian government had been communicating with the stranded seafarers as well as their employer and the shipping company’s agent in an effort to find a solution.
MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. Photo: YouTube/MEA)
Six Indian seafarers have remained stranded at Karachi Port in Pakistan for more than six months, with their return home caught up in a matter between the vessel’s owner and its employees. India has said it is in touch with the crew, the shipping company and its agent to resolve the issue, and has also made a consular request to Pakistan.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said this while responding to a question about an Indian merchant navy officer who, along with five other crew members, has reportedly been unable to leave Karachi Port for several months.
The families of the seafarers have been appealing to the authorities to help bring them back home.
Why are the seafarers unable to leave the ship?
Explaining the reason for the delay, Jaiswal said the matter was essentially a commercial issue between the shipping company and the employees working on the vessel.
He pointed out that crew members cannot simply leave a ship without a replacement crew being arranged. The existing employees have to remain on board until another team is brought in to take over their duties.
“It is actually a matter between the owner of the ship and the employees who are on the ship. You cannot just leave the ship. A replacement crew has to come before you leave,” Jaiswal said.
At A Glance
Six Indian seafarers have been stranded at Karachi Port in Pakistan for more than six months.
The delay is due to a commercial dispute between the vessel owner and its employees regarding replacement crew arrangements.
India is in communication with the stranded crew, the shipping company, and its agent to resolve the issue.
India has also made a consular request to Pakistan concerning the stranded seafarers.
The spokesperson reiterated that the issue involved the relationship between the ship’s owner and the people employed on it. He described it as a commercial matter between the shipping company and its employees.
India in touch with crew, shipping company
Jaiswal said the Indian government had been communicating with the stranded seafarers as well as their employer and the shipping company’s agent in an effort to find a solution.
“We have been in touch with these people there, as well as with the employer — the shipping company and their agent — and we are trying to resolve this issue,” he said.
He added that India had also approached Pakistan through a consular request in connection with the matter.
The MEA spokesperson said the government was making efforts to resolve the situation through its communication with the crew and the company, while also taking up the issue with the Pakistani side.
Families appeal for help to bring seafarers home
The Indian merchant navy officer and five other crew members have reportedly been stranded at Karachi Port for several months. Their families have been seeking intervention from the authorities to facilitate their return.
The matter was raised with the Ministry of External Affairs amid concerns over the prolonged wait faced by the crew members and their families.
While India has made a consular request to Pakistan and is in contact with the shipping company, Jaiswal maintained that the central issue remains a commercial dispute between the employer and the employees.
He said a replacement crew must arrive before the existing seafarers can leave the vessel, making the arrangement between the ship’s owner and its employees central to resolving the situation.
About the Author
Shuddhanta Patra is an Indian journalist with about nine years of experience in covering national politics, geopolitics, defence, diplomacy and international affairs. Her reporting focuses on South As…Read More
Delhi, India, India
November 13, 2026, 11:37 PM IST
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