India and Liberia have jointly established a “group of friends” focused on enhancing the safety and security of shipping and seafarers. This initiative was announced on Friday and comes in response to ongoing attacks on commercial shipping. The collaboration aims to address the increasing threats faced by maritime operations and ensure the protection of those involved in the shipping industry.
The initiative was launched at the ministerial-level meeting of the group of ‘Friends on Safety and Security of Shipping and Seafarers’ on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly. Amid ongoing global conflicts, merchant shipping and seafarers are facing increased risks in various regions, including the Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Bab-el-Mandeb, Black Sea, and Somalia. With nearly two million seafarers helping safely conduct oceanic trade – which accounts for roughly 80% of the international trade – Jaishankar pointed to India’s record in catalysing international action to ensure their safety including at the BRICS Summit earlier this month.
“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 against seafarers and ships, saying “regrettably” these are no longer exceptional occurrences. “In the last few months, commercial shipping and marinas have been subjected to repeated attacks in the Gulf, the Red Sea, and its vicinity….These actions that disrupt maritime commerce and cost innocent lives are simply indefensible,” he said. These actions that disrupt maritime commerce and cost innocent lives are simply indefensible,” said external affairs minister S Jaishankar at the event. Earlier reporting noted: India’s foreign minister called on the international community to “close ranks and deter such attacks”. Earlier reporting noted: “Prime Minister Modi proposed establishing a seafarers emergency support network which could connect the maritime authorities and embassies of the countries concerned and facilitate distress alerts, medical alerts, communication with family and support for evacuations where needed,” said Jaishankar.
A significant number of Indian seafarers serve onboard both Indian-flagged and foreign-flagged vessels operating in or transiting through these regions, exposing them to associated maritime security risks. (This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Earlier reporting noted: “From the Black Sea to the Red Sea to the Gulf, attacks on civilian shipping have become a growing cause of concern.
