Freed Ship in Mozambique, But Pakistani Crew Remains Trapped

Islamabad: A ship that had been detained in Mozambique has been released, but its Pakistani crew remains trapped onboard.
According to reports, with the support of the Pakistani Embassy and the Shipping Office, a judicial bailiff inspected the vessel. Following the inspection, the ship was granted permission to discharge its cargo. The South African Pakistani Embassy played a significant role in alleviating the crew’s difficulties. After the cargo was offloaded, the ship was sent to anchorage, and the sale of the cargo is expected to generate $1.1 million, which will be used to settle outstanding dues.
Captain Mohammad Aslam stated that they are still awaiting permission from Mozambique’s Marine Authority to sell the cargo. Following intervention from the Pakistani Embassy and Shipping Office, the crew has been provided with limited supplies of food, water, and fuel.
Despite joint efforts by Pakistan and Indonesia to have the crew removed from the ship, Mozambique’s Marine Authority rejected the request.
Captain Aslam emphasized that technically, the ship has been freed, but the crew cannot leave the vessel. He criticized the Marine Authority for not adhering to international laws, pointing out that the delay in providing basic necessities such as food, medicine, fuel, and water falls under the responsibility of Mozambique’s Marine Authority. The crew is facing a shortage of these essential supplies and is still not allowed to disembark the ship.