India advises seafarers to assess Black Sea shipping risks

India has advised its seafarers to carefully assess security risks before accepting employment on commercial vessels operating in or transiting the Black Sea, following the deaths of five Indian nationals in attacks on merchant shipping since April. The advisory, issued by the Ministry of External Affairs on July 26, describes the security situation in the region as "highly volatile" due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, with vessels facing significant risks from missile and drone attacks.

The warning follows two recent fatal incidents. On July 19, four Indian seafarers were killed and a fifth was hospitalized in critical condition when the bulk carrier Golden Leo was struck while departing the Port of Odesa. A day earlier, one Indian national was killed when the commercial vessel Omorfi was attacked while transiting the Black Sea. Separately, India's embassy in Ukraine confirmed that four Indian nationals were aboard the merchant vessel AGN Ragnar when it was struck at the Port of Odesa; two have been confirmed safe while search operations continue for the remaining two.

The ministry's advisory urges seafarers to obtain comprehensive information from employers regarding a...