WEB DESK: Three Pakistani nationals, including the captain of a foreign cargo vessel, have been stranded at Beira Port in Mozambique, facing dire conditions with no access to food, water, or fuel.
The vessel, which has been docked at the port for nearly nine months, is caught in a prolonged legal and financial dispute, leaving its 12-member crew in a state of desperation.
The crew comprising three Pakistanis and nine Indonesians has not received salaries for several months. The situation has now reached a critical point, with all provisions onboard exhausted and fuel reserves nearing total depletion. Refrigeration systems have ceased functioning, and the ship is on the verge of losing all remaining power.
Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs, Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, has taken immediate notice of the crisis. He has directed the relevant authorities to extend full assistance to the stranded Pakistani seafarers. The Director General of Ports and Shipping is reportedly in constant communication with Captain Muhammad Aslam, the Pakistani national commanding the vessel.
Speaking to media, Captain Aslam described the increasingly desperate situation. “The limited rations we received from the port authorities lasted only four days,” he said. “We have now completely run out of food and water, and the fuel will not last much longer.”
The vessel’s predicament stems from a financial conflict between its Italian ownership and the Mozambican port authorities.
Although the cargo was successfully offloaded months ago, the goods remain in legal custody due to pending payments, preventing any further logistical support from being provided to the ship.
Compounding the crisis is the lack of a Pakistani diplomatic mission in Mozambique, making coordination and communication more difficult. However, Pakistan’s Ministry of Maritime Affairs has confirmed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is actively engaged in diplomatic efforts to ensure the safety and repatriation of the Pakistani crew.
Efforts are ongoing to resolve the impasse and ensure the safe return of the affected crew members. The Ministry is also working with Mozambican authorities to expedite procedures and deliver urgent humanitarian aid to those stranded onboard.
