Pakistani crew on Hong Kong-flagged ship not allowed to disembark

KENDRAPADA/BHUBANESWAR: Security agencies refused to allow 21 Pakistani crew members aboard a crude oil tanker to disembark shortly after it anchored near Paradip port Wednesday.

The Hong Kong-flagged “MT Siren II”, carrying 196,580 MT of unrefined oil, is anchored at the single point mooring (SPM) berth approximately 20km offshore from Paradip port. The cargo is destined for the Indian Oil Corporation Ltd refinery in Paradip.

ADG ( coastal security ) in Odisha Arun Bothra said the cargo vessel has 25 crew, including 21 from Pakistan. “Specific instructions were issued for the Pakistani nationals not to disembark as a precautionary measure,” he told TOI.

Jagatsinghpur SP Bhawani Sankar Udgata said security measures were intensified after immigration authorities identified the Pakistani nationals. “The Pakistani crew will remain on board,” Udgata said. There will be no restriction on the remaining crew, two each from India and Thailand.