Karachi Port Dispute Delays Repatriation of Six Indian Seafarers

Six Indian seafarers stranded aboard the general cargo vessel KEVER at Karachi Port in Pakistan have been reported safe, with the Indian government coordinating efforts to facilitate their replacement and eventual return to India. However, nearly seven months after the vessel reached Karachi, the crew members remain unable to disembark, as a prolonged dispute involving the ship's owners and port authorities continues to complicate their situation.

A senior government official said on October 29 that six relief crew members were ready to board the vessel, but their embarkation was awaiting formal clearance from Karachi Port authorities. The replacement personnel have completed the necessary formalities and are staying at a hotel in Pakistan. The vessel is currently stationed at Berth No. 21, West Wharf, with the Indian High Commission and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) coordinating with relevant stakeholders.

Among those stranded is Vineet Kishore Mishra, a chief officer from Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, who joined the Iran-based shipping company on February 25, 2026. The vessel reached Karachi on April 17 following a voyage involving Iran and Oman. His six-month employment contract and visa reportedly expired in August, but he has not been formally signed off or permitted to return home. Mishra's wife, Neha Mishra, and their two young children have been awaiting his return, while his father, Lalit Kishore Mishra, a retired Army personnel, has also sought government intervention.

The family has alleged that the vessel has remained without electricity for approximately three months, with inadequate food and water supplies, restricted communication and crew passports allegedly withheld. Neha said she speaks to her husband only once every 15–20 days for a few minutes. The family has approached the Prime Minister's Office, President's Secretariat and MEA seeking assistance.

Adding to the complications, the Sindh High Court, in a September 3 order, directed the detention of M.V. KEVER in an admiralty dispute involving a claim of USD 221,700.34 for alleged outstanding ship-management and operational services. The vessel cannot sail without judicial permission, subject to specified financial security conditions.

The International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) has also listed the vessel in its abandonment register, identifying 12 crew members, including six Indians and six Iranians, and recording six months of outstanding wages.