FIA Fines Shipping Agency Rs. 3.5 Million Over Foreign Crew Documents

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in Karachi has imposed a fine of Rs. 3.5 million on a shipping agency for the inadequate documentation of seven foreign catering workers on the vessel CS MARAM at Karachi Port. The irregularities were discovered during a routine inspection. The vessel, flagged in Abu Dhabi, arrived from Salalah and is scheduled to remain in Karachi for approximately two months to carry out a cable-laying and repair project.

The crew consisted of 33 members, including four Nepali nationals, one Bangladeshi national, and two Malawian nationals who served as cooks, assistant cooks, and stewards. The FIA found that these seven workers did not possess National Seaman Books, Flag Seaman Books, or other necessary maritime documents. Their records were also missing training certificates, Flag Endorsements, Certificates of Competency (CoC), Certificates of Proficiency (CoP), and watchkeeping certificates.

However, some of the workers possessed seaman books from Burundi, Palau, and Saint Kitts and Nevis. The workers claimed they were not professional seafarers, stating that the company had hired them solely for catering and hospitality duties aboard the ship. The vessel's captain admitted to the documentation errors and apologized.

The FIA has issued a notice demanding the payment of the fine and assured that the shipping agency will deposit the amount in the national treasury during the present week. The shipping agent also agreed to submit a receipt of the paid challan to the immigration office.