China yet to give any assurance on Anastasia crew change as humanitarian crisis deepens

Fate of 16 Indian sailors on cargo ship MV Anastasia remains in the balance as China has again denied to give any assurance on the crew change for the ship which is on anchorage near Caofeidian port in northern China since 20th September.

Chinese Foreign Ministry responding to a Prasar Bharati question on Monday said, Chinese competent authorities are in close communication with the Indian side, timely replying to the Indian sides requests and raising practical suggestions of crew change and we have been providing necessary convenience and assistance to the Indian side in accordance with our COVID-19 protocols. And as for the charterer, whether it will adjust its arrangement, it will entirely depend on itself. Previously also, China has been terming such a grave humanitarian crisis as an issue that was a commercial matter for the companies involved. Despite the humanitarian crisis deepening, Chinese govt is not impressing upon the cargo owner to let the ships leave the ports, technicalities being put aside.

Sixteen Indian crew members on the ship are undergoing immense mental and physical sufferings with not even timely medical aid being provided to them by local Chinese authorities. The crew told Prasar Bharati that Chinese side has denied the proposal of ship-to-ship transfer of crew and they haven’t received any update on it. They appealed to the authorities to help them as the situation is getting worse with each passing day and the crew is in depression.

Hopes for the resolution of the impasse rekindled after India negotiated the passage of one ship, MV Jag Anand to Japan on 18th January this year which was stuck at Jingtang port since June 2020. After negotiations, cargo owner of Jag Anand allowed it to move to Japan for crew change but the cargo owner of Anastasia, HK Holdings, has refused to divert it to another port. The decision leaves Anastasia’s sailors stranded after already enduring months at sea with medical emergencies and psychological turmoil. Indian Embassy in Beijing has been constantly trying to break this deadlock.