China blamed commercial companies responsible for handling the cargo on two merchant vessels for the predicament of 39 Indian sailors stranded in Chinese waters for months, saying it was provided assistance to the crew members.
The Indians are part of the crew of the two ships carrying Australian coal that haven’t been allowed to offload their cargo. The situation is believed to be the outcome of the China-Australia trade row, and reports have suggested more than 1,400 seafarers and about two million tons of Australian coal are stuck on vessels outside Chinese ports.
There are 23 Indian crew members on the bulk cargo vessel MV Jag Anand, in anchorage near Jingtang port in Hebei province since June 13. Another 16 Indian crew members are on MV Anastasia, in anchorage near Caofeidian port since September 20.
“Chinese authorities have been in close communication with Indian side [and] provided timely assistance [and] necessary supplies to Indian sailors,” Chinese embassy spokesperson Ji Rong said on Twitter on Wednesday evening.
“China has never denied any vessel departure. Real cause of situation is freight forwarder doesn’t want to adjust plans due to commercial interests,” she said.
Shipping minister Mansukh Mandaviya told reporters that the government is in talks with the Chinese side to bring back the Indian sailors.
“Diplomatic talks are going on for this successfully. Our seafarers will come to India very soon,” he said, without giving details.
The external affairs ministry said last week that other foreign vessels had been allowed to enter Chinese ports and discharge their cargo in the months during which two ships with Indian crew members were prevented from doing so on the grounds of Covid-19-related restrictions.
“We understand that some other ships, which arrived after the Indian ships arrived, have actually managed to discharge cargo and leave. The reasons for this are not clear,” ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava told reporters at a news briefing.
Both Jag Anand and Anastasia are carrying Australian coal. Chinese Customs haven’t cleared Jag Anand’s cargo and local authorities haven’t allowing the crew to leave the vessel, citing Covid-19-related restrictions. Jag Anand’s charterer has refused to allow it to sail to another port to relieve the crew.
Anastasia’s second officer, Gaurav Singh, told the media that mental health issues, lack of medical support and a decline in drinking water quality had compounded the problems of the crew.
Srivastava said the “unprecedented situation” had resulted in stress among the crew. The Indian side has requested Chinese authorities to allow the ships to discharge their cargo and change their crew members.
The Chinese side has said crew change is not permitted at Jintang and Caofeidian ports because of Covid-19-related restrictions.
Source: Hindustan Times
