The Ministry of External Affairs has reaffirmed that the safety of Indian sailors remains a matter of high priority as new concerns emerge over maritime security in volatile regions.

During a media briefing in New Delhi, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the government is closely monitoring incidents involving Indian mariners in high‑risk zones such as the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf of Aden, and the coasts of Yemen and Somalia.

He emphasised that the welfare of the seafaring community is taken very seriously and that India routinely raises safety issues with relevant international authorities.

His remarks followed the release of a video by the Forward Seamen’s Union of India (FSUI), which claimed that Indian sailors were harassed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy during an incident on 22 April.

The footage, made public on Thursday, shows a Panama‑flagged vessel carrying 22 crew members, 21 of whom were Indian nationals, being surrounded by small armed craft.

FSUI alleged that the boats belonged to the IRGC and that a Rocket‑Propelled Grenade was fired during the confrontation. The video depicts crew members taking shelter in interior corridors to protect themselves.

In a post on X, FSUI wrote that this was not a case of piracy but a direct assault by naval forces, stressing that advisories alone cannot guarantee safety and calling for direct naval escort for Indian mariners in conflict zones.

Jaiswal acknowledged the footage and said, “Whenever there’s an issue with our seafarer community, with our seamen, we take it up with the relevant authorities. In this particular case, let me come back to you as to what has been the progress.”

He also confirmed reports of two foreign‑flagged commercial ships recently seized by armed pirates in the Gulf of Aden and off the Somali coast. A total of 22 Indian nationals are among the captive crew, with 16 on one vessel and 6 on the other.

The spokesperson assured that all Indian sailors are currently unharmed. He explained that officials are in touch with relevant authorities to ensure their safety and well‑being, and that more specific information will be shared as it becomes available.

The FSUI video has intensified calls for stronger protective measures, with the union insisting that innocent seafarers need the assured presence of naval forces rather than reliance on advisories.

This comes amid heightened risks for commercial shipping in the Persian Gulf and the Horn of Africa. Indian authorities are actively engaging diplomatic and maritime channels to safeguard citizens, while global shipping continues to face mounting threats from both state actors and pirates.

India, as one of the world’s largest suppliers of maritime manpower, has a direct stake in ensuring the safety of its nationals. The government has already expanded its “Seafarer‑First” program, which includes real‑time vessel tracking, mandatory voyage risk assessments, and coordination with the Indian Navy and international maritime agencies.

Officials have stressed that the latest incidents underscore the urgent need for international cooperation to protect freedom of navigation and secure global trade routes.

ANI