Indian Seafarers Stranded On Board ‘Jag Anand’ In Chinese Waters To Return Home By January 14

For more than a month the maritime world is buzzing with news of stranded seafarers in Chinese waters over an alleged Australian coal cargo unloading ban and caught in this turmoil were 39 sailors belonging to 2 ships.

After months of negotiations, the sailors got some relief as 23 of them have been granted permission to return back to India.

Return To India Via Japan

In a statement released Shipping Minister Mansukh Lal Mandaviya has announced that India flagged bulker Jag Anand will be setting sail for Chiba, Japan with its 23 crew members. The bulker anchored near the Jingtang port of Hebei is owned by the Indian shipping company Great Eastern Shipping. The ship is stranded at sea since June last year.

The Minister acknowledged the shipping company’s efforts to sustain the crew saying he
” appreciates the humanitarian approach of the Great Eastern Shipping Company towards the seafarers and standing by them in this crucial time”.

The Seafarers will reach Chiba Port, Japan on 14th January and after following due procedure related to COVID protocols, they will fly back to India,” Mandaviya added.

Our Seafarers stuck in China are coming back to India!
Ship M. V. Jag Anand, having 23 Indian crews, stuck in China, is set to sail toward Chiba,Japan to carry out crew change, will reach India on 14th January.
This could only happen due to strong leadership of @NarendraModi ji

— Mansukh Mandaviya (@mansukhmandviya) January 9, 2021

Another Ship Still Stuck

This 7 months impasse caused extreme levels of physical and mental stress for the crew which turned many of them suicidal

Another set of Indian sailors are stranded on a MSC ship anchored at Caofeidian port. The MV Anastasia has been stranded since September last year and efforts are on to expatriate the crew. Recently, one of them tried to commit suicide by slitting his wrist.

Reference: thenewsminute.com