Chinese fishing vessels seek shelter at Gwadar Port in Pakistan as monsoon arrives
The Consulate General of China in Karachi has said five Chinese vessels have sought shelter from the monsoon of the Indian Ocean at Gwadar Anchorage, media reports said.
The vessels were accused of pillaging fishery resources of Pakistan in some reports but according to The Express Tribune such allegations are baseless.
The Chinese vessels were only five nautical miles away from the Gwadar port and have informed all the relevant authorities of their intention, reports the newspaper.
The consulate told The Express Tribune that the vessels requested a stay at Gwadar anchorage and Gwadar Port to maintain machines, replenish stocks, etc.
The vessels reportedly arrived in the international waters of the Indian Ocean in late November 2020 for the purpose of fishing.
“In the fishing ground where our fleet operates, the wind gust can reach level 7-8 every day; the sea waves can reach 2.5-3.6 meters; and the surges can reach 1-1.8 meters. Under such circumstances, the fishing boats are shaking terribly, which poses a very big safety risk,” the crew told the newspaper, adding that things got worse when the engines of two of the fishing vessels malfunctioned and they had to find shelter as soon as possible.
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