FIA Fines Shipping Agency Rs3.5m Over Crew Papers
The FIA fines shipping agency Rs3.5 million after seven foreign catering workers aboard a vessel at Karachi Port were found without valid seaman books. The Federal Investigation Agency found the gaps during an immigration check on the ship, which had arrived from Salalah and docked at West Wharf.
The vessel, CS MARAM, flies the flag of Abu Dhabi. It carries 33 crew members and will stay in Karachi for about two months for a cable-laying and repair project. FIA officials spotted the irregularities while checking the crew’s immigration documents.
FIA fines shipping agency after document check
The seven workers served as cooks, assistant cooks and stewards. Four are Nepali nationals, one is from Bangladesh and two are from Malawi. FIA officials found they did not hold National Seaman Books, Flag Seaman Books or other required maritime documents.
Their records also lacked training certificates, flag endorsements, Certificates of Competency, Certificates of Proficiency and watchkeeping certificates. Further checks showed that some of the workers carried seaman books issued by Burundi, Palau, and Saint Kitts and Nevis.
The workers told officials they were not professional seafarers. They said the company had hired them only for catering and hospitality work aboard the ship, and that the company had supplied their documents.
What a seaman book proves
A seaman book is the basic identity and service record for anyone who works at sea. It shows who the holder is, what training they have done and which ships they have served on. Port authorities use it to check that crew members are who they claim to be and that they hold the qualifications for their jobs.
A flag seaman book is issued under the rules of the country whose flag the ship flies. Certificates of Competency and Certificates of Proficiency prove that a seafarer has passed the training needed for a given role. Watchkeeping certificates cover the right to stand watch on the bridge or in the engine room.
Catering staff need valid documents too. A ship’s cooks and stewards live aboard for months, and port states check their papers like any other crew member’s.
Captain accepts responsibility
The vessel’s captain accepted responsibility for the documentation issues and apologised. Following the inspection, the FIA issued the shipping agency a fine notice for Rs3.5 million.
The shipping agent assured officials that the agency would deposit the amount in the national exchequer during the current week. The agent also pledged to submit a copy of the paid challan to the immigration office.
The FIA has stepped up action against document fraud in recent months. The agency earlier exposed a fake Umrah visa fraud worth Rs7 million, and cybercrime investigators have also been active against online scams. The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency recovered Rs3.2 million in an online fraud crackdown, while a fake Rs13,000 cash reward warning showed how fraudsters target the public.
What happens next
The agency has a week to pay the fine and file the challan with the immigration office. The FIA has not said whether it will take further action against the agency or the vessel.
For shipping firms, the case shows the cost of cutting corners on crew papers. For the workers, the outcome is less clear, since they were hired for catering work and now sit at the centre of a case they did not create.
Karachi’s port handles the bulk of Pakistan’s seaborne trade, and its terminals stay busy through the year. The city’s industrial base keeps growing around the port, which makes immigration and safety checks a routine part of every ship’s stay. Raids on illegal call centres in Lahore show the same enforcement drive on land.
Frequently asked questions
Why did the FIA fine the shipping agency?
The FIA fined the agency Rs3.5 million because seven foreign catering workers aboard CS MARAM lacked National Seaman Books, Flag Seaman Books and other required maritime documents.
Which ship was involved?
The vessel is CS MARAM, an Abu Dhabi-flagged ship that arrived from Salalah and docked at Berth No. 25 of West Wharf at Karachi Port.
Who were the seven workers?
Four were Nepali nationals, one was from Bangladesh and two were from Malawi. They worked as cooks, assistant cooks and stewards.
What is a seaman book?
A seaman book is a seafarer’s identity and service record. It shows the holder’s training, qualifications and sea service, and port authorities check it when a ship arrives.
Has the fine been paid?
Not yet. The shipping agent assured the FIA that the agency would deposit Rs3.5 million in the national exchequer during the current week and submit the paid challan to the immigration office.
