The Ministry of Shipping is closely monitoring the safety and welfare of 166 Indian seafarers serving on Indian and foreign-flagged vessels operating in the Persian Gulf and near the Strait of Hormuz, amid escalating attacks on commercial shipping in the region, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Tuesday.
Addressing the weekly media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that six Indian-flagged vessels are currently operating west of the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf, carrying 125 Indian seafarers. In addition, 41 Indian seafarers are serving on foreign-flagged ships in the same region.
“The Ministry of Shipping is closely monitoring our ships as well as our seafarers to ensure their well-being and welfare. Our missions in the region are in touch with the Ministry of Shipping and are ready to provide any assistance that may be required,” Jaiswal said.
Responding to queries regarding Indian seafarers operating in the Black Sea region, Jaiswal noted that India has the world’s second-largest seafaring community, with thousands of Indian nationals serving on both Indian and foreign merchant vessels. However, he said the government does not currently have the exact number of Indian seafarers operating in and around the Black Sea.
The MEA reiterated India’s firm position that commercial shipping and civilian maritime infrastructure must not be targeted during conflicts.
“We have consistently conveyed to all our partners and stakeholders that commercial shipping, seafarers, civilians and civilian infrastructure must never be attacked. We have also condemned the recent attacks on commercial vessels in the Black Sea region,” Jaiswal stated.
The remarks come in the wake of a series of attacks on merchant vessels operating in the Black Sea. On Monday, the MEA summoned Ukraine’s Ambassador to India, Oleksandr Polishchuk, to convey New Delhi’s serious concern over the recent strike on the commercial vessel MV OMORFI, which claimed the life of an Indian seafarer.
Separately, the Indian Embassy in Ukraine confirmed that another merchant vessel, MV Ragnar, carrying four Indian nationals, was struck while at the Port of Odesa. Two Indian crew members were reported safe, while information regarding the remaining two was still awaited.
The developments highlight the growing security risks faced by Indian seafarers serving in conflict-prone maritime regions, prompting the Indian government to maintain close coordination with shipping authorities and diplomatic missions to safeguard their welfare.