Indian sailors stuck on stranded ships at Chinese ports

There are 23 Indian sailors on the Jag Anand, 16 on Anastasia and several more on 73 other ships that remain stranded in Chinese waters with about 1,500 on board. (Photo: Navigation officer Gaurav Singh)

The Anastasia crew has been on board for 18 months, going from Jordan to US-Europe, then India, South Africa and then the Australia-China run. (Photo: Navigation officer Gaurav Singh)

The Anastasia arrived in China on August 3, after which the chartering agent kept giving them week-long extensions for a berth on the port, the crew said; it has been five months now. (Photo: Navigation officer Gaurav Singh)

While they can't offload their coal cargo in China, the crew on the ships say they don't know why they can't leave the ports. (Photo: Navigation officer Gaurav Singh)

Labour staff on board the ships keep doing the maintenance work and help carry boxes when supplies arrive. (Photo: Navigation officer Gaurav Singh)

With the exception of 3 people, everyone on the Anastasia is 50 or older. (Photo: Navigation officer Gaurav Singh)

The 9-month contract that Gajanand Tandel, 60, signed had ended in April this year, but it had to be extended because no one could leave the ship. (Photo: Navigation officer Gaurav Singh)