India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has sounded an alarm for Indian seafarers considering employment on merchant ships operating in or transiting the Black Sea. In a security advisory released on 26 July 2026, the ministry warned that missile and drone strikes linked to the continuing regional conflict have made commercial navigation in the area “highly volatile,” causing a spike in incidents since April that has already claimed five Indian lives. The MEA urged prospective crew members to scrutinise contract details, insurance coverage and evacuation plans before boarding, and to maintain constant contact with family and Indian missions abroad. The advisory cites data from the Directorate General of Maritime Administration showing a 40 % rise in security incidents involving merchant vessels in the north-western Black Sea since hostilities intensified this spring. Shipowners have been told to adhere to International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code requirements and ensure that India-flagged or India-crewed vessels file voyage plans with the Indian Ocean Region Information Fusion Centre in Gurugram. For employers, the government recommends rerouting through the Bosphorus and Dardanelles whenever feasible and purchasing additional war-risk insurance. Recruitment agencies have been asked to brief candidates on the risks and to keep emergency hotlines active 24/7. The MEA also published consular helpline numbers for the Indian embassies in Moscow and Kyiv. Indian shipping companies such as the Shipping Corporation of India have begun offering hardship allowances of up to US $1,500 a month to retain experienced crew. However, maritime unions say that smaller agencies are still sending first-time seafarers without adequate training, pointing to the need for stricter enforcement. The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) has welcomed Delhi’s move, urging other major labour-supplying nations to issue similar guidance. For corporate mobility managers, the takeaway is clear: deployment of Indian staff to vessels servicing Black Sea ports now requires enhanced due-diligence, specialised insurance and real-time tracking. Employers that ignore the advisory risk not only employee safety but also potential criminal liability under India’s Merchant Shipping Act for neglecting crew welfare.
Source: Republic World
