Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has made a plea that seafarers on a panamax bulker anchored off China for months be allowed to disembark and return home.

The Swiss owner said on Sunday that it is "calling for an urgent crew-change solution" for the 92,200-dwt Anastasia (built 2012), moored off China's northern coast with a dozen other ships.

The vessel has been anchored off the port of Caofeidian since 20 September, according to VesselsValue, because Chinese authorities have rejected its crew for the past six months.