2063 Tribune News Service New Delhi, February 4 The 18 Indian sailors of a cargo ship stranded outside a Chinese port for over six months have been allowed to leave following sustained efforts by the Indian embassy in Beijing, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said at a virtual media briefing on Thursday. The Chinese Central authorities have conveyed to the local authorities as well as the port authorities to permit a crew change. This information has also been shared with the local shipping company which has submitted a request to the authorities and is working out the modalities. “We hope that this is done at the earliest,” said Srivastava.