KARACHI: The Ministry of Ports and Shipping has asked the Egyptian authorities to evacuate 18 Pakistani crew members, including a chief officer, who are held at a general cargo vessel off the port area.
A Kuwaiti general cargo vessel, MV Akaaz, had been drifted off the port area with 17 crew members and the chief officer on board.
Talking to Customs Today, Chief Officer Jameel Jangian of MV Akaaz stated that the vessel had been drifted for the last four months and the shipper as well as the Egypt port authorities were not giving attention to the problem.
Jangian said that six of the crew members onboard have fallen ill and there is no way to reach hospital whereas the salaries are also unpaid since the date of joining. All the food at the vessel is nearly consumed, he said.
Source said that now the ministry has contacted the Kuwaiti Shipping company for early release of the vessel as well as has asked the Egyptian Ports Ministry to make suitable arrangements for the return of the crew members. The Port and Shipping Ministry has also expressed concern over the seizing of the passports of the crew members by Egyptian authorities. The vessel was on a nine-month tour of different ports.
According to the ministry officials, arrangements are being made to ensure return of the crew members by Pakistan International Airlines.
