Context:

• Recent attacks on commercial ships in sensitive geographical areas such as the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz raise the concern of  safety among Indian seafarers. As Indian seafarers constitute 9.35% of the global seafaring population, India’s stakes are high in this 
• In this situation, India submitted three papers to the 111th Session of the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Legal Committee (LEG). 
• These submissions address crucial issues such as seafarers’ security, contract terms, and broader maritime security challenges. India has stressed the need for a comprehensive approach to maritime security and advocated improved contractual conditions for seafarers.

Threats faced by Indian seafarers:

• Safety and Security Concerns: Indian seafarers face safety threats due to recent attacks on commercial ships in sensitive geographical areas such as the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz. Piracy, armed robbery, extremist attacks, and regional conflicts pose significant risks to their safety.
• Unlawful Recruitment Practices: Indian seafarers are vulnerable to exploitation through unlawful recruitment practices, including false promises of high salaries, inadequate working conditions, and forced transportation of illegal cargo.
• Inadequate Rights and Legal Representation: Despite their commitment to their careers, Indian seafarers lack adequate rights and protection. Also, many of them lack legal representation and are unaware of their rights. This leaves them vulnerable to unfair treatment and exploitation.
• Detention and Kidnapping: Indian seafarers face the risk of detention and kidnapping, as highlighted by incidents such as the detention of MT Heroic Idun in Nigeria and the kidnapping of 20 Indian nationals from the MT Duke off the western coast of Africa.
• Poor Working Conditions: Seafarers often face overwork, insufficient food, and other poor working conditions, especially when exploited by shipping companies.
• Impact of Geopolitical Tensions: Geopolitical tensions in regions where Indian seafarers operate, such as the Gulf of Guinea and the Middle East, further exacerbate their safety concerns and risks.

Solutions to address the concerns:

• Enhanced Maritime Security Measures: Implementing enhanced maritime security measures in piracy-prone regions such as the Red Sea, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Gulf of Guinea can help protect Indian seafarers. This may involve increased patrols, cooperation with international naval forces, and the deployment of private security personnel on merchant vessels.
• Regulation and Oversight of Recruitment Practices: Implementing stricter regulations and oversight mechanisms for recruitment agencies can help prevent unlawful recruitment practices. This includes ensuring transparency in recruitment processes, enforcing fair labour standards, and penalising agencies that engage in exploitative practices.
• Legal Assistance and Awareness Programs: Providing Indian seafarers with access to legal assistance and awareness programs can help empower them to assert their rights and address grievances. This may involve establishing legal aid centres, conducting training sessions on seafarers’ rights, and facilitating communication channels for reporting abuses.
• International Cooperation to Combat Piracy: Strengthening international cooperation among maritime stakeholders, including governments, shipping companies, and international organisations like the IMO, can enhance efforts to combat piracy. This may involve information sharing, joint patrols, and coordination on legal and operational responses to piracy incidents.
• Improvement of Working Conditions: Enforcing regulations to improve working conditions for seafarers, including adequate rest periods, access to quality food, and fair wages, can help enhance their well-being and reduce vulnerability to exploitation.
• Accountability Mechanisms for Ship Owners: Establishing accountability mechanisms to hold ship owners accountable for violations against seafarers’ rights can deter exploitative practices. This may involve strengthening regulatory frameworks, conducting regular inspections, and imposing sanctions on non-compliant companies.
• Government Support and Advocacy: Governments, including the Indian government, can provide support to seafarers through advocacy efforts, diplomatic initiatives, and the provision of welfare services. This includes raising awareness about seafarers’ issues, advocating for their rights on international platforms, and providing assistance to seafarers in distress.

India aims to increase its share of the seafaring population to 20% in the next 10 to 20 years. Achievement of this goal requires concerted efforts from all the stakeholders in a sustainable direction.