Lok Sabha Question No. 514 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-04
Subject: Stranded Vessels
Ministry: PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
Asked by: Ravneet Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 514

TO BE ANSWERED ON 4TH FEBRUARY, 202,1

## STRANDED VESSELS

## 514. SHRI RAVNEET SINGH BITTU:

Will the Minister of PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS  be pleased to state: qilfr , +d  qfud-afr'  3ik E-d-flFt *i*

- (a) whether it is a fact that two lndian vessels were stranded for months off the coast of China as they were caught in a trade dispute between China and Australia;
- (b) if so, the details  thereof;
- (c) whether  it is a fact that an agreement has been reached to bring these stranded lndian seafarers home from China;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) if not, the reasons  therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT  CHARGE) FOR PORTS, SHIPPING  AND WATERWAYS (SHRI MANSUKH MANDAVIYA)

(a) & (b) No Sir. As per the available information  only one lndian vessel M.V Jag Anand (lMO No.9463308)  owned by M/s Great Eastern Shipping Company had arrived at the Port of Jingtang, North China on 13 June, 2O2O lor discharging  of Coal which she had loaded in Australia.  The vessel had 23 lndian Crew on board. The vessel was stranded on account of difficulties faced by them regarding Crew Change at Chinese  Ports as the Chinese  Port Authorities  have banned the entries of Foreigners w.e.f. 28 March,2020  and suspended all visa and residence permits with a view to control the spread  of Covid-19.  The vessel was waiting at the port of Jintang,  China till first  week  ol January 2021 .

lnforlnation  was also received for one foreign flag vessel M.V. Anastasia  (1MONo.962590) with 16 lndian seafarers onboard stranded at Caofeidian  Anchorage, China since 3rd August, 2020.

(c) to (e) No Sir. No agreement  has been reached  to bring these  stranded  lndian seafarers.

However,  on receipt of the information,  the Directorate  General of Shipping has taken up the matter with the following  authorities  seeking assistance to facilitate  the crew change  of seafarers & repatriation  of the crew:

i.the  Ministry  of External  Affairs, South West  Division, New Delhi; ii.the Embassy  of lndia, Beijing, China; iii.tthe  Maritime  Safety  Administration of People Republic  of China; and

- iv.the  Secretary  General,  lnternational Maritime Organization (lMO), London.

Later on the lndian flag vessel, M. V. Jag Anand was allowed  to sail to Japan for crew change and all disembarked  crew from the vessel on  '18-19  January, 2021 al Chiba, Japan have since been repatriated to lndia on 20 January,  2021 .fhc vessel M.V. Jag Anand then sailed ottt of Chiba, Japan on 21 January, 2021 for China.

With regard  to the vessel,  M V Anastasia, the matter has been taken up with the Chinese authorities by the Ministry of External  Affairs,  Govt. of lndia/lndian  Embassy at China for an early resolution. The foreign office of Hebei Province,  China has informed  that MV ANASTASIA  can leave anchorage  in order to effect the crew change, which is likely to take  place  from Tianjin Port. The authorities  in Tianjin port are examining the matter of facilitating the crew change.