The safety of seafarers operating through some of the world’s most volatile maritime corridors is back in focus after India’s Ministry of External Affairs said it is closely monitoring incidents involving Indian sailors in high-risk maritime zones, including the Strait of Hormuz and the coasts of Yemen and Somalia. The statement followed the release of previously recorded footage by the Federation of Seafarers and Indian Seafarers Union (FSUI), which claims to show a commercial vessel coming under attack in the Strait of Hormuz on April 22. The vessel carried 22 crew members, including 21 Indian nationals; FSUI identified the attacking forces as Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy, although this remains an allegation by the union rather than an independently established finding.
The security concerns extend beyond the Hormuz incident. During its briefing, India’s MEA also addressed two foreign-flagged commercial vessels whose crews were reportedly seized by armed pirates in the Gulf of Aden and off the Somali coast. The government confirmed that 22 Indian citizens 16 on one vessel and six on the otherare among those being held, while stating that the sailors are currently safe and that Indian authorities are in contact with relevant officials regarding their welfare.
For commercial shipping, the developments highlight the human-security dimension of operating through strategically important but high-risk waters. The Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Aden, Somali coast and waters around Yemen remain areas where vessel operators and crews must closely monitor evolving security conditions. India’s Directorate General of Shipping has also issued specific safety and security advisories for Indian seafarers operating in the Gulf region, Yemen waters and the Bab el-Mandeb area, underscoring the continued operational importance of maritime security across these routes.