Centre committed to safety and welfare of every Indian seafarer: Minister
New Delhi, June 12
The government is closely coordinating with the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian Navy, Indian Missions abroad, maritime administrations of friendly countries, shipping companies, seafarers' welfare organisations and other relevant stakeholders to ensure timely support and assistance to Indian seafarers, according to an official statement.
According to Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, the government remains fully committed to the safety, security and welfare of every Indian seafarer.
"All relevant ministries, agencies and missions abroad are working in close coordination to ensure timely support and assistance whenever required," he said.
Recent security incidents involving merchant vessels operating in the region have highlighted the increasing risks faced by commercial shipping.
MT Settebello, a Palau-flagged Medium Range Tanker carrying 28 crew members, including 24 Indian seafarers, was reportedly subjected to a missile attack while operating approximately 20 nautical miles north-east of Sohar, Oman.
The Seafarers Welfare Fund Society (SWFS), functioning under the Directorate General of Shipping, stands ready to extend eligible welfare benefits, financial assistance and other support measures to affected seafarers and their families whenever required.
As per protocol, SWFS is releasing Rs 10 lakh to the families of the deceased.
In the meantime, the government has directed all concerned agencies to remain on heightened alert and maintain readiness to respond to any contingency involving Indian seafarers or Indian maritime interests.
Notably, the Directorate General of Shipping has advised all Indian seafarers serving onboard Indian and foreign-flagged vessels transiting through conflict-affected waters to exercise the highest degree of caution and vigilance.
Vessel operators, ship managers and shipping companies have also been advised to adhere strictly to prevailing maritime security protocols, maintain enhanced situational awareness and continuously monitor advisories issued by the Government of India and competent international authorities.
Moreover, stakeholders have been directed to promptly report any incident involving Indian seafarers to the Directorate General of Shipping to facilitate immediate intervention and coordination.
— IANS
Reader Comments
As someone who has family members working on merchant vessels, this is reassuring. The coordination between Navy, MEA and shipping companies is crucial in these dangerous times. But I hope advisories are actually followed strictly on ground level.
Very proud of how our government and missions abroad are handling this. Our seafarers are the unsung heroes of global trade, and they deserve every bit of protection. Jai Hind! 🇮🇳
Good intentions, but actions matter more. Why did it take a missile attack for this urgency? Many Indian seafarers face issues like wage theft, abandonment, and poor living conditions on foreign ships regularly. Hope this isn't just a reactive press release.
Important context: 24 of 28 crew were Indian on that tanker. This shows how dependent global shipping is on Indian talent. Glad to see coordinated response, but we need a permanent crisis cell for seafarers, not ad-hoc measures.
Honestly, ₹10 lakh seems too little for a life lost. I know there are protocols, but the government should revise this amount upward. Also, many seafarers from smaller towns don't even know how to access these funds - outreach needs improvement.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.