India's foreign ministry condemned attacks on three commercial vessels in the Black Sea, two with Indian crew, as casualties among Indian seafarers mount.

BulletsIn

• Since the West Asia conflict began in February, 16 Indian seafarers have been killed in attacks on merchant ships, 33 injured and 3 are missing.
• This week the Ministry of External Affairs condemned attacks on three commercial vessels in the Black Sea, two of which carried Indian crew.
• The Palau-flagged Able had 7 Indians among 18 crew; one was injured and all were evacuated to Varna, Bulgaria.
• All 23 crew on the Liberia-flagged Aframax Rio were Indian and were rescued, while the crew status of the Togo-flagged Alfa Watan was awaited.
• India called for an immediate end to attacks on commercial shipping, seafarers and civilian infrastructure.
• India had 3.23 lakh seafarers in 2025, up from 1.03 lakh in 2013, and is the second-largest supplier after the Philippines.
• About nine in ten Indian seafarers serve on foreign-flagged ships, which limits India's leverage even when its nationals are aboard.
• According to the Directorate General of Maritime Administration, firms offer two to three times normal wages for conflict-zone voyages.
• Advisories classify the Strait of Hormuz, Red Sea and Gulf of Aden as high-risk zones.
• A 5 August circular requires owners or crewing agencies to inform the DGMA and obtain written consent from every Indian seafarer before transiting Hormuz.
• As of 8 October, 38 vessels of Indian interest were being tracked, including 30 Indian-flagged ships carrying 750 Indian seafarers.
• Death in a war-like zone brings ₹10 lakh ex gratia from the Seafarers Welfare Fund Society, plus union and insurer payments.

Tags: IndianSeafarers, StraitOfHormuz, BlackSea