On May 11, 2025, a commercial cargo ship owned by an Iraqi company docked at Karwar port, carrying bitumen from Iraq. The vessel had 16 crew members, including 13 Indians and three foreign nationals—two from Syria and one from Pakistan. Upon arrival, authorities were informed of the foreign crew’s presence and conducted standard security checks.
Karwar Harbour police inspector Nischal Kumar stated that the Pakistani and Syrian crew members were not allowed to disembark due to ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan, compounded by Syria’s support for Pakistan. This precautionary measure aimed to ensure security. During the ship’s stay, the Indian crew provided food and supplies to the foreign nationals, who worked as helpers and attendants for the Iraqi shipping company.
Additionally, the authorities confiscated the foreign crew members’ phones during their time at the port. Kumar noted that no suspicious materials were found, and the phones were returned after the ship departed on May 14. Historically, Pakistani crew members on commercial vessels have been permitted to go ashore under certain conditions.
