Stranded sailors to return home

Manama : Ending six-month long ordeal, 11 sailors stranded in Bahrain will be repatriated back to their home countries soon. 

The much-needed relief came following successful negotiations by ASRY in cooperation with the Bahrain Ports and Maritime Authority (PMA). The negotiations were under taken following the directives of ASRY Chairman, Shaikh Daij Bin Salman Al Khalifa, and Bahrain Ports and Maritime Authority Undersecretary, Hassan Al Majid. 

The 11 sailors include Sudanese captain, two Pakistani ranking officers, a Syrian chief engineer, six Indian cadets and one from Myanmar. 

Dubai-based Sea Llinks Shipping abandoned the ship, Sea Lord, along with its sailors off the coast of Bahrain months ago. Bahrain Ports and Maritime Authority later blacklisted the shipping company. 

As part of the deal reached, the abandoned vessel will be moored in ASRY’s basin. Bahrain-based Al Sharif Group, in coordination with immigration authorities, has successfully finalized all the requirements for repatriation of the crew to their home countries. 

“We are very glad we could assist in bringing a solution to this unfortunate situation,” commented ASRY Acting Chief Executive Magdy Mustafa. 

“The well-being of the Sea Lord’s crew is our top priority, and the Bahrain Ports and Maritime Authority, particularly Hassan Al Majid, Undersecretary of Ports & Maritime, Bader Hood, Assistant Undersecretary for Ports Affairs at the Bahrain Ministry of Transport, and Capt. Sami Aldoseri, ASRY’s Maritime Department Head and his crew, who have been working diligently and persistently to find this solution.”