Indian Seafarers: Challenges, Maritime Security and Way Forward

25 Jul 2026

GS II: Bilateral, regional, and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

Context: Rising conflicts in West Asia, the Red Sea, and the Black Sea have exposed the vulnerability of Indian seafarers, highlighting the need to integrate their protection into India’s foreign policy, maritime diplomacy, and consular framework.

Who are Seafarers?

Seafarers are trained personnel employed on merchant ships engaged in international trade and maritime transport. They include captains, officers, engineers, ratings, cooks, and other crew members responsible for operating commercial vessels.

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Current Status of Indian Seafarers

Global Maritime Workforce: India has approximately 3.2 lakh seafarers (June 2025) and contributes over 12% of the world’s seafaring workforce, ranking second globally after the Philippines.
Growing Strategic Importance: Indian seafarers play a vital role in sustaining global trade, energy supply chains, and maritime logistics.
Rising Security Risks: Several Indian seafarers have been killed, injured, detained, or abandoned due to conflicts in West Asia and other maritime hotspots.

Challenges Faced by Indian Seafarers

Complex Jurisdiction: Ships often operate under flags of convenience, making responsibility for the welfare of seafarers fragmented among the flag State, shipowner, port State, insurer, and country of nationality.
Conflict Zones: Commercial vessels face threats from missile attacks, drones, mines, piracy, and hostage-taking in regions such as the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Black Sea, and Strait of Hormuz.
Abandonment: India recorded the highest number of abandoned seafarers in 2025, exposing gaps in international enforcement of labour obligations.
Weak Consular Coordination: Existing consular mechanisms are organised territorially and are often unable to provide timely assistance to highly mobile maritime workers.
Information Gaps: Families frequently lack accurate information regarding the location, safety, and employment status of seafarers during emergencies.

Significance for India

Maritime Security: Protecting Indian seafarers strengthens India’s role as a responsible maritime power.
Economic Importance: Safe maritime operations are essential for India’s trade, energy security, and shipping industry.
Diaspora Protection: Effective protection of seafarers reinforces India’s commitment to safeguarding its citizens abroad.
Strategic Credibility: A robust seafarer protection framework enhances India’s standing in global maritime governance.

Existing Government Initiatives

Seafarer First Response: The Government has introduced a Seafarer First mechanism to account for Indian seafarers in conflict zones and coordinate emergency responses.
Maritime Dashboard: A dedicated dashboard has been created to monitor vessels, assess threats, and coordinate crew welfare during crises.
Deployment Advisory: The Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) has advised shipping companies to avoid deploying Indian seafarers on vessels transiting high-risk regions such as the Strait of Hormuz.
Action Against Abandonment: The DGS has prohibited recruitment agencies from placing Indian seafarers on vessels linked to repeated cases of abandonment unless prescribed compliance conditions are fulfilled.

International Legal Framework

Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), 2006: Establishes minimum standards relating to working conditions, wages, repatriation, and crew welfare.
International Maritime Organization (IMO): Develops international standards for maritime safety, security, and shipping regulation.
International Labour Organization (ILO): Promotes labour rights and welfare standards for seafarers through international conventions.

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Key Challenges

Weak International Accountability: Enforcement of obligations by some flag States remains inadequate.
Limited Bilateral Frameworks: Existing maritime agreements focus primarily on certificate recognition and employment rather than consular protection and legal assistance.
Dependence on Foreign Jurisdictions: India’s ability to protect seafarers is often constrained by international legal and commercial arrangements.
Lack of Risk Disclosure: Seafarers are not always fully informed about ownership, insurance status, sanctions, or security risks before accepting employment.

Way Forward

Strengthen Maritime Consular Diplomacy: Establish specialised maritime consular protocols and designate trained maritime officers in major global ports.
Develop Real-Time Monitoring: Expand the Seafarer First dashboard into a permanent early-warning and crisis-response mechanism for high-risk maritime regions.
Strengthen Bilateral Agreements: Include provisions relating to consular access, legal assistance, crew welfare, and time-bound repatriation in maritime cooperation agreements.
Enhance International Cooperation: Collaborate with major seafarer-supplying countries such as the Philippines and Indonesia to strengthen global standards under the IMO and ILO.
Improve Recruitment Transparency: Mandate disclosure regarding ship ownership, insurance, sanctions status, operational routes, and previous cases of crew abandonment before employment contracts are signed.
Protect Seafarers’ Rights: Allow seafarers to refuse deployment in officially designated high-risk conflict zones without facing employment penalties.

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Conclusion

As India emerges as a leading maritime nation, protecting its seafarers must become an integral component of its foreign policy, maritime diplomacy, and national security strategy. A comprehensive framework combining international cooperation, consular preparedness, and strong legal safeguards is essential to ensure that Indian seafarers remain protected beyond borders, flags, and jurisdictions.