Six Indian sailors have been stuck aboard a vessel at Karachi port in Pakistan for nearly seven months. Their families claim that the sailors’ passports have been confiscated, the electricity supply to the ship has been cut off, and communication with them is severely limited. The families allege that the ship was detained due to a dispute between the Iran-based KEVER Shipping Company and the port authorities in Karachi. They have raised concerns regarding the impact of this dispute on the Indian crew members.

Among those affected is Vineet Kishore Mishra, a chief officer in the Merchant Navy hailing from Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh. His family has reached out to high-ranking officials including the Prime Minister, the President, and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to seek assistance in securing the safe return of all six Indian nationals.

According to Mishra’s family, the crew members are facing dire conditions aboard the vessel. They reportedly have no consistent electricity supply and struggle to access mobile networks, managing to communicate with their families only once every fifteen days. Furthermore, Mishra’s employment contract has expired, yet he has not been permitted to formally disembark and return home.

Ship Detained Following Arrival at Karachi Port

The family states that Mishra joined the KEVER Shipping Company on February 25, 2026, and subsequently travelled aboard one of its vessels from Oman. The ship arrived at Karachi port on April 17, 2026. Following its arrival, the family alleges that the vessel was detained due to a disagreement between the shipping company and the port authorities. As a result, the electricity supply was cut, and the passports of the Indian crew members were reportedly seized.

Since that time, the six Indian sailors have remained aboard the vessel, with no clear timeline for their return. Mishra has been working in the Merchant Navy for nearly a decade, and his family asserts that what began as a professional assignment has devolved into a prolonged period of uncertainty.

Mishra’s wife, Neha Mishra, and his father, Lalit Kishore Mishra, a retired Army personnel, are actively seeking his return. The couple has two young children who are eagerly awaiting their father’s homecoming. The limited communication has heightened their anxiety, as they receive updates infrequently and have little insight into the crew’s living conditions.

Family Seeks Urgent Intervention from Authorities

The family has approached the Indian diplomatic mission in Pakistan and has submitted a written request for the safe return of Mishra and the other stranded crew members. Although they claim to have received assurances from the mission, the situation remains unresolved nearly seven months after the vessel’s arrival at Karachi port.

In their quest for resolution, relatives have escalated their appeals to the Prime Minister, the President, and the Ministry of External Affairs. They have also sought assistance from their local MLA and MP to bring the issue to the attention of the central government. Their primary demand is for the Indian crew members to be allowed to return home, regardless of the ongoing dispute between the shipping company and port authorities.

The family has requested clarity on when the sailors’ travel documents will be returned, when they will be permitted to sign off from the vessel, and what measures are being taken to facilitate their repatriation. With six Indian citizens still awaiting their return, their families are hopeful for prompt intervention from both the central and Uttar Pradesh governments to resolve the situation and ensure their safe return home.

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