Staff Report Islamabad
A legislative body of Upper House of Parliament on Wednesday took up the matter of cargo ship that ran aground on the beach in Karachi after it lost its anchors due to rough weather.
The matters was raised during a meeting Senate Standing Committee on Maritime Affairs which was held on Wednesday in parliament house while Senator Rubina Khalid was on chair.
Senator Rubina Khalid inquired the Secretary Ministry of Maritime, as to what action has been taken by the authorities.
Replying to the question Secretary, Ministry of Maritime apprised the committee that a cargo ship coming from Shanghai was on its way to Istanbul, Turkey. The ship did not enter the Karachi Port. It was in Pakistani waters for change of crew members.
The rough sea caused the vessel to lose its anchors and it started drifting towards shallow water.
The ship was already in shallow water by the time the KPT was informed about the situation.
The environmental experts raised fears that oil being transported in the vessel could spill, potentially damaging the environment, he further informed. The Secretary further informed that the ship was flying a Panama Flag.
The secretary Ministry said that the salvaging the vessel is the responsibility of the ship’s owners and the Insurance Company.
The secretary informed that the ship came on the Pakistanis shores on 17th July, by the time the ministry was informed of the drifting of ship on its return to Pakistani waters after it lost the second anchor, it was 1st day of Eid and the ports were closed.
