Indian Seafarers Face Heightened Risks as 15 Killed and 13 Rescued Amid Red Sea and Black Sea Conflicts

India’s maritime regulator reported that 15 Indian seafarers have been killed and two remain missing in a series of security incidents linked to the West Asian and Black Sea conflicts over the past three months. Director General of Maritime Administration Shyam Jagannathan said 57 maritime incidents, including drone and missile attacks on merchant ships in the Black Sea and a resurgence of piracy off Somalia, have sharply worsened the operating environment for Indian vessels. He warned that the Houthi threat in the Red Sea has re‑emerged, driving up global logistics costs.

The Ministry of External Affairs, citing the sinking of the Indian‑flagged vessel MSV Faize Noore Oliya in the Red Sea, stressed that seafarer safety is a "high priority". All 13 Indian crew members were rescued by the Yemeni Coast Guard, and Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal pledged coordinated agency action to protect Indian seafarers. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal called for safe, unimpeded navigation and urged all parties to refrain from targeting civilian vessels.