‘Solve issue of sailors stuck aboard vessel’

MUMBAI: Taking note of the plight of 16 sailors stuck on a ship anchored off Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) since February, the Bombay high court (HC) has asked the Union of India, directorate general of shipping (DG shipping) and the company that owns the ship, to sort out the issue of dues immediately.

The sailors aboard the ship, Tag Navya, which set sail from Mangalore on February 5, approached the HC seeking permission to disembark as their fuel and food are almost exhausted.

The vacation bench of justice AS Gadkari and justice NJ Jamadar was informed by advocate Atharva Dandekar, who appeared on behalf of Arjun Kalra, the ship’s captain and eight sailors, that many of the crew were facing severe health and psychological issues as they had been stuck on the vessel since February 5.

Owing to a financial problems faced by the ship’s owners, the company had gone into liquidation and an interim resolution professional (IRP) had been appointed.

Dandekar informed the court that owing to maritime rules, the crew could not leave the ship unmanned till a new crew replaced them.

After hearing the petition, the bench observed that the situation was not conducive for the safety and well-being of the sailors and directed the Union of India to refuel the ship.

The HC also directed the Centre, through advocate HV Tamanna, to get the IRP, DG shipping and JNPT to find a solution immediately. K A Y DODHIYA