The Heng Tong 77, the vessel grounded at Seaview beach in Karachi for the last month, has been refloated today. The credit goes to Captain. Asim Iqbal of Bahria Maritime Services (Pvt) Ltd, the shipping agents of barge Heng Tong 77, Seamax Marine Group and local stakeholders for successful operation without a single drop of the oil spill in lousy weather.

Meanwhile, Mahmood Moulvi, Prime Minister Imran Khan’s special assistant on maritime affairs, has also addressed the press conference and confirmed the completion of shore operation. He said that the vessel would reach the outer anchorage of Karachi Port tomorrow. Still, the port authority would not allow the ship to sail from Pakistan until the vessel owner pays some sundry expenses of stakeholders. The vessel’s owner should carry out the ship survey to check its seaworthiness as per IMO rule.

The retrieved bunker oil will be transferred to the ship when demanded by the vessel owner or its local team in Pakistan.

It was reported that the rescue team would resume operation tomorrow when the high tide would enable them to take the vessel to the anchorage area with the help of tug Harmony.