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'Exercise utmost caution': India issues advisory for nationals taking up work on vessels in Black Sea
The MEA said the security situation in and around the Black Sea and adjoining maritime areas remains "highly volatile" due to the ongoing conflict.
The government on Sunday urged seafarers working on merchant vessels operating in or transiting the Black Sea to take additional precautions, including insurance coverage and emergency provisions, hours after a foreign-flagged cargo ship with four Indian crew members was attacked in the Ukrainian port of Odesa.
An advisory for Indian nationals working on commercial vessels operating in the Black Sea issued by the external affairs ministry said the security situation in and around the region and adjoining maritime areas is “highly volatile” due to conflict.
“Commercial vessels operating in or transiting these waters are facing significant security risks, including missile and drone attacks,” the advisory said. There has been an increase in such attacks on commercial vessels since April, resulting in the death of five Indians.
Four Indian seafarers were on MV AGN Ragnar, a Palau-flagged cargo vessel, when it was “struck at the port of Odesa” on Saturday, the Indian embassy in Kyiv said on social media. “As per the latest information, two have been confirmed safe, and information is awaited regarding the other two nationals,” the embassy said.
Search and rescue operations were underway, and the embassy is closely monitoring the situation.
The advisory said that Indian nationals intending to work on commercial vessels operating in or transiting the conflict-affected Black Sea region should “carefully assess the prevailing security risks before accepting such assignments”.
Seafarers choosing to work in the region should exercise “utmost caution” and take other precautions, including obtaining comprehensive information from employers, recruitment agencies and ship operators regarding the vessel's route, ports of call, security arrangements, insurance coverage, and emergency response procedures, the advisory said.
The seafarers should ensure their terms of employment comply with international maritime standards and provide “adequate provisions for medical care, evacuation, repatriation, and compensation in the event of an emergency”.
The seafarers should also keep their families informed of their itinerary and maintain regular contact, monitor and comply with advisories from the Directorate General of Maritime Administration and other government authorities, as well as safety instructions issued by vessel operators and maritime authorities.
The advisory also urged Indian nationals to consider a security advisory issued by the Directorate General of Maritime Administration on July 23, which called on seafarers to exercise the “highest degree of caution” in the Black Sea following 10 attacks on foreign-flagged vessels with Indian crew members since April.
Four Indian seafarers were among 10 people killed when MV Golden Leo was hit by multiple missiles while departing Odesa port on July 19. Another Indian seafarer was killed when the bulk carrier MV Omorfi was attacked while transiting the Black Sea, reportedly in Russian territorial waters, on July 18.
The foreign-flagged tankers MT Louise-1, MT Asia and MT Nelsa, all of which had Indian crew members, were recently attacked near Novorossiysk in Russia.
Indian seafarers needing consular assistance can contact Indian embassies or Consulates in the region. The emergency contact numbers are –
Embassy of India, Russia: +7 9652773414
Embassy of India, Ukraine: +38 0933559958.
