The FIA fines shipping agency story from Karachi Port puts the spotlight on crew paperwork: the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Immigration wing has imposed a Rs3.5 million penalty after seven foreign catering workers on a visiting vessel were found without the documents seafarers must carry.
According to an FIA spokesperson, officers found the gaps while checking the immigration papers of the crew of CS MARAM, an Abu Dhabi-flagged ship that arrived from Salalah and is berthed at West Wharf, Berth No. 25.
Why FIA Fines Shipping Agency Rs3.5 Million
The vessel has 33 crew members and is due to stay in Karachi for about two months for a cable-laying and repair project. During the inspection, officials flagged the papers of seven workers serving as cooks, assistant cooks and stewards.
| Detail | What officials found |
|---|---|
| Vessel | CS MARAM (Abu Dhabi flag), arrived from Salalah |
| Location | West Wharf, Berth No. 25, Karachi Port |
| Total crew | 33 |
| Workers flagged | 7 (4 Nepali, 1 Bangladeshi, 2 Malawian) |
| Fine | Rs3.5 million on the shipping agency |
The FIA said the seven did not hold National Seaman Books, Flag Seaman Books or other required maritime papers. Their records also lacked training certificates, flag endorsements, Certificates of Competency, Certificates of Proficiency and watchkeeping certificates.
What the Workers and the Captain Said
Further checks showed that some of the workers carried seaman books issued by Burundi, Palau, and Saint Kitts and Nevis. The workers told officers they are not professional seafarers and were hired only for catering and hospitality work on board. They added that the company had arranged their documents.
The ship’s captain accepted responsibility for the lapse and apologised, the agency said. The FIA then served a fine notice of Rs3.5 million on the shipping agency handling the vessel.
What Happens Next
- The shipping agent has assured officials the fine will be deposited in the national exchequer within the current week.
- A copy of the paid challan is to be submitted to the immigration office.
- The vessel is expected to remain in Karachi for around two months, so its crew papers stay under watch.
The case is a reminder for shipping agents that every person listed as crew, including catering staff, must hold valid seafarer documents before a ship calls at a Pakistani port. More details on immigration rules are available on the FIA website.
Read More: FIA Arrests Woman Over Rs5.2 Million UK Visa Fraud in Rawalpindi
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