A distress network for seafarers at sea: What Modi proposed at BRICS, and why India needs it
A Distress Network for Seafarers: India’s BRICS Proposal
Bharatmorning.com – A distress network for seafarers could provide a vital safety link for merchant crews navigating conflict-prone waters. At the BRICS Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed an international support mechanism to help seafarers obtain emergency assistance, medical care, evacuation support and reliable communication with their families during maritime crises.
Merchant sailors are essential to global trade, yet they can be left exposed when ships encounter missile strikes, armed conflict or other emergencies far from their home countries. Modi’s proposed Seafarers Emergency Support Network would bring together maritime authorities and diplomatic missions in participating nations to respond more effectively when crews need help.
“Seafarers contribute significantly to global trade, but they often lack support in difficult times,” Modi said.
India has a strong reason to seek a more coordinated system. It is the world’s second-largest supplier of commercial shipping personnel after the Philippines, and Indian crew members have faced deadly risks in West Asian waters and the Black Sea.
Why India needs a distress network for seafarers
The BIMCO-ICS Seafarer Workforce Report 2026, released in June by the Baltic and International Maritime Council and the International Chamber of Shipping, estimated India’s maritime workforce at 311,936 people. This represents 12.16% of the global commercial seafaring workforce of 2.57 million.
India’s presence is particularly significant among officers, who are responsible for navigation, vessel command and engine operations. Indian officers account for 13.41% of the worldwide officer workforce.
Many Indian sailors work aboard foreign-flagged vessels operated by overseas companies. As a result, their safety may depend on several jurisdictions at once: the country of their citizenship, the vessel’s flag state, the shipowner’s location and the coastal state where an incident occurs. A distress network for seafarers could help reduce delays caused by this complex arrangement.
Risks around the Strait of Hormuz
West Asia became a major source of concern in 2026 as commercial shipping faced repeated threats near the Strait of Hormuz. On July 30, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh told the Rajya Sabha that 10 Indian seafarers had been killed in the region since the conflict began earlier in the year.
Across the region, 16 Indian nationals were killed: eight in Oman, four in the United Arab Emirates, two in Kuwait, and one each in Saudi Arabia and Iraq. Another 75 Indians were injured, although most of those injuries were reported on land.
The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow but strategically important passage connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman. It carries oil tankers and other commercial vessels, making attacks or disruption there a serious concern for international trade and for crews on board ships.
On July 12, the Cyprus-flagged container vessel GFS Galaxy was attacked near Omani waters. Damage to its hull and engine room caused the ship to lose propulsion and steering. Its Indian third engineer was initially reported missing and was later confirmed dead.
More incidents followed on July 20, when missiles struck the tankers Kavomaleas and Acheloos off Oman. The Kuwait-flagged Kaifan was also hit at Limah Anchorage by an unidentified projectile, and an Indian second engineer required hospital treatment.
On August 18, the Liberia-flagged bulk carrier Minoan Dignity was struck five nautical miles off Oman during an outbound passage. The vessel’s chief engineer was killed, while the Omani Coast Guard assisted the surviving crew.
Official updates showed that between 125 and 480 Indian seafarers were typically aboard Indian-flagged ships in the Persian Gulf region during the summer, with as many as 253 others in the Gulf of Oman. These figures did not include Indian crew members working on foreign-flagged vessels. By August 18, shipping companies had moved 4,144 Indian seafarers out of the region, while authorities had recorded 45 attacks involving Indian-flagged ships or foreign vessels carrying Indian crew.
The Black Sea remains dangerous
The Russia-Ukraine war created another high-risk route for commercial shipping. Indian crew members aboard vessels in the Black Sea were also affected by attacks linked to the conflict.
On July 18, the Omorfi was attacked in waters described by the external affairs ministry as Russian territorial waters. One of the vessel’s three Indian crew members was killed.
The following evening, the Golden Leo was attacked while departing the Ukrainian port of Odesa. Five Indians were among its 17 crew members. Four Indian sailors were killed and another was hospitalised in critical condition.
These incidents underline why a distress network for seafarers is not simply a diplomatic proposal. It could give governments, shipping companies and maritime agencies a clearer way to share alerts, locate affected crew members, coordinate emergency aid and keep families informed during rapidly changing situations.
Frequently asked questions
What is a distress network for seafarers?
It is a proposed international emergency-support mechanism for merchant sailors facing danger at sea. The network could connect maritime agencies, diplomatic missions and other authorities to coordinate alerts, medical support, evacuation and communication with families.
Why are Indian seafarers especially affected?
India supplies a large share of the global commercial shipping workforce. Indian sailors serve on vessels registered in India and abroad, including ships that travel through conflict-prone regions such as the Strait of Hormuz and the Black Sea.
How could Indian families benefit from the proposed system?
A coordinated network could help provide faster verified information when an incident occurs. It could also improve contact between families, shipping companies, Indian missions and the authorities handling rescue, medical care or evacuation.