Pakistani sailors stranded in Egypt to return home this week

KARACHI: Four Pakistani sailors stranded onboard the Kuwaiti cargo ship near the port of Suez will be returning home on January 5. The Pakistani Embassy has completed preparations to repatriate the four sailors, according to sources.

The sailors identified as Mohammed Umer Ghauri, Tanveer, Mohammed Tariq and Samiullah will be returning home—although empty handed—as the Kuwaiti company has not cleared their dues pending for the last five months. Three out of the four sailors are said to be severely unwell.

A total of 17 Pakistani sailors were stranded onboard the MV AKKAZ which is anchored in the Suez Canal after the Egyptian government confiscated the vessel for non-payment of dues.

The MV AKKAZ owned by a Kuwaiti company and chartered by a Dutch firm had set sail from Abu Dhabi on August 11, 2016 bound for Port Said and Alexandria in Egypt and then onwards to the Netherlands.

However upon reaching the Suez waters in October the vessel was not allowed to enter due to mechanical failure and expiry of its technical license.

The stranded sailors according to the vessel’s Chief Officer Jameel Jangian are owed approximately Rs. 20 million by the shipping corporation in dues.