At UNGA, India launches maritime safety group to protect ships and seafarers

New Delhi: India and Liberia on Friday announced the establishment of a "Group of Friends" on the safety and security of shipping and seafarers, a key maritime initiative launched amid growing challenges to commercial shipping against the backdrop of the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz and Bab-el-Mandeb.

The initiative was launched at the ministerial-level meeting of the "Friends on Safety and Security of Shipping and Seafarers" on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly in New York. "India, as a major source of seafarers, and Liberia, as the largest shipping registry, have come together to highlight the safety and security of shipping and seafarers," External affairs minister S Jaishankar said at the meeting. Jaishankar listed recent incidents of attacks on seafarers and ships, saying that, "regrettably", these are no longer exceptional occurrences. Addressing the inaugural meeting, Jaishankar said, "From the Black Sea to the Red Sea to the Gulf, attacks on civilian shipping have become a growing cause of concern. These actions that disrupt maritime commerce and cost innocent lives are simply indefensible. We are here to not just highlight this dangerous trend, but to urge the international community to close ranks and deter such attacks." He said the effort was aimed at bringing all relevant stakeholders together through an inclusive platform. The EAM said the group includes major ship-owning member states, countries with the largest number of ship registries and those that provide the maximum number of seafarers.

Jaishankar said that two days ago, the Antigua and Barbuda-flagged bulk carrier MV Cape Dao was attacked in the Gulf of Oman and an Indian sailor was killed. Earlier, the Panama-flagged oil tanker El Gaia was struck while transiting Hormuz, after which an Indian crew member went missing. "These, regrettably, are no longer exceptional occurrences. In the last few months, commercial shipping and mariners have been subjected to repeated attacks in the Gulf, the Red Sea and its vicinity. Such unacceptable actions are also occurring in the Black Sea," he said.