India has called for an ‘early resolution’ on the situation of stranded Indian sailors off the coast of China. 2 Indian bulk cargo vessels MV Jag Anand with 23 Indian nationals and MV Anastasia with 16 Indian nationals have been stranded off the coast of Jingtang and Caofeidian ports respectively. MV Jag Anand has been on anchorage since 13 June, while MV Anastasia has been stranded since September 20. In the case of Jag Anand, it has been more than 6 months that the crew has been stranded.
The ministry of external affairs in a statement said, “We expect that this assistance will be provided in an urgent, practical and time-bound manner, given the grave humanitarian situation that is developing on board the ships.”
Both the vessels are docked in ports near the northern Chinese province of Hebei. China has said, due to COVID related restrictions, vessels can’t discharge cargo nor crew change is permitted. But a crew change can happen in the nearby Chinese port of Tianjin. But what has raised eyebrows is that some other ships, which arrived after the Indian ship had arrived, have managed to discharge cargo and leave.
The Chinese embassy in Delhi earlier this week said while ‘close communication’ with the Indian side continues on the issue, “China has never denied any vessel departure. Real cause of the situation is freight forwarder doesn’t want to adjust plans due to commercial interests.”
India has raised the matter with China both in Delhi and Beijing. The Indian mission in Beijing has taken up the matter with the Chinese foreign ministry and local authorities of Hebei province and Tianjin port. The Indian ambassador, Vikram Misri has personally taken up the matter with the vice foreign minister of China. In Delhi, MEA has taken the matter with the Chinese embassy.
Now, Indian embassy officials are liaising with authorities in Tianjin port for berthing approvals to facilitate the crew change. With regards to MV Anastasia, the possibility of crew change at sea is being explored with the Indian embassy officials writing to Chinese authorities proposing this alternative.
Meanwhile, India’s National Human Rights Commission has taken a Suo Motu cognizance on the matter and sent notices to Secretary CPV in the Ministry of external affairs and Director General, shipping in the ministry of ports, shipping, and waterways. The NHRC called the development amounting to ‘violation of human rights’ and pointed to news reports that the ‘arrival of these ships coincided with an escalating altercation between China and Australia’.
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