39 Indians stuck on ships stranded in Chinese waters

Hubei : 39 Indians have been on-board two stranded ships in Chinese waters for past few months. Meanwhile, Indian authorities have been in constant touch with the Chinese authorities to provide all humanitarian basic necessities.

External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava informed that bulk cargo vessel, MV Jag Anand, has been on anchorage near Jingtang port in Hebei province of China since June 13 and it has 23 Indian nationals as crew.

Another vessel, MV Anastasia, with 16 Indian nationals as its crew, is on anchorage near Caofeidian port in China since September 20, waiting for discharge of its cargo, he said at a media briefing.

"Our Embassy is in touch with the Chinese authorities. The Chinese authorities have conveyed that on account of various COVID-19 related restrictions imposed by the local authorities, crew change is not being permitted from these ports," he said. 

"The government continues to be in regular touch with the Chinese authorities to seek a resolution of these issues at the earliest and also to ensure that the humanitarian needs of the crew are taken care of," Mr Srivastava said.