Government starts rescuing cargo ship stuck at Karachi’s Seaview

Heng Tong 77 is carrying approximately 118 tonnes of bunker fuel raising concerns of oil leakage.

Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Zaidi Sunday on Twitter announced that five days ago, a ship, loaded with containers, came aground due to high waves and got stuck at Karachi’s Sea view due to its weak engine.

Am quarantined due to #COVID19 with high fever & other symptoms. But I’m not dead as yet.
Therefore, have been monitoring all plans to rescue to stuck vessel.
Firstly, request all to not waste time on the rubbish being floated on media & by some self proclaimed shipping experts pic.twitter.com/cCoLFlx2Ax

— Ali Haider Zaidi (@AliHZaidiPTI) July 24, 2021

The ship will finally be recused on the fifth day after Karachi Port Trust's (KPT) refusal to rescue the ship from shallow waters, citing an inability to do so.

Federal Maritime Affairs Minister Ali Zaidi took to Twitter to share that a 200-meter floatation boom was deployed along the ship's starboard side.

Per the federal minister, arrangements have also been made to avoid oil spillage from the ship.

In series of Tweets, Ali Zaidi also shared that the KPT Marine Pollution Control and port security personnel were deployed on site 24 hours a day to avoid oil spillage.

The minister disclosed that the ship's captain did not call for help and further commented that a committee was formed to investigate the matter.

I am hopeful that this issue will be professionally resolved very soon as per IMO regulations & international maritime laws.
May Allah guide us on the path of his chosen ones! ?

— Ali Haider Zaidi (@AliHZaidiPTI) July 24, 2021

The federal minister says he is obstinate to find out who was responsible for the incident.

"This is Imran Khan's government. I have been indicated from day one that we will not allow anyone to take illegal advantage of our ports," the tweet read.

He also shared a notification by the Ministry of Maritime affairs for the formation of a fact-finding committee to investigate the incident.