New Delhi: Thirteen Indian seafarers are stuck on a cargo vessel at Ukraine’s Chornomorsk port, with the Forward Seamen’s Union of India (FSUI) saying the crew is in a “terrible and life-threatening situation” as drone and missile attacks continue near the Black Sea port amid the war in Ukraine.
The union has sought immediate intervention from the Centre, shipowners, the vessel’s flag state and other authorities to get the crew out of the conflict zone. FSUI said MV AMIR1 has 15 crew members on board, including 13 Indians, and warned that the danger to their lives is rising with each passing day as the ship remains stranded.
The union also released a video it said was recorded from the ship. The footage appeared to show thick smoke close to the port, and the FSUI said urgent action was needed before the situation worsened further.
Crew In Fear
“MV AMIR1, currently at Ukrainian port Chornomorsk with 15 crew on board, including 13 Indian seafarers, is trapped in a terrible and life-threatening situation,” the union said. It alleged that drone and missile strikes were happening near the vessel, leaving the crew unsure whether they were safe.
“Repeated drone and missile attacks are being attempted in the immediate vicinity of the vessel. The crew is living under constant fear of a direct hit at any moment,” it said.
Neither the Ministry of External Affairs nor the shipping company had responded to the comments at the time of writing, as reported by India Today.
Sea Lanes Hit
The latest case comes amid a series of attacks on merchant vessels off Ukraine’s southern coast. A day earlier, India summoned Ukraine’s Ambassador to New Delhi after MV OMORFI was attacked near Odesa. Four Indian crew members were on board, and one Indian sailor died in the strike.
The Ministry of External Affairs condemned the attack in the “strongest terms”, saying assaults on commercial shipping threaten maritime safety, freedom of navigation and global trade. It also called on Ukraine to make sure civilian merchant vessels are not targeted during military operations. That followed another attack last week, when MV AGN RAGNAR was hit at Odesa with four Indians on board. Two crew members were rescued, while two remain missing and search operations are still continuing.
Earlier this month, another cargo vessel, MV Golden Leo, was struck near Odesa, killing 10 crew members, including four Indian nationals. After that attack, New Delhi summoned Russia’s charge d’affaires and raised concerns over the safety of Indian seafarers in the conflict zone.
Black Sea Threat
The latest appeal has once again underscored the risks for merchant sailors in the Black Sea, where commercial ships have repeatedly been caught in the crossfire of the Russia-Ukraine war.
Odesa and Chornomorsk remain key cargo ports, but they have also turned into regular targets of missile and drone attacks, leaving civilian crews trapped aboard ships for days or even weeks under constant threat.
Taking note of the danger, the Ministry of External Affairs recently advised Indian nationals to assess the security situation carefully before taking up assignments on vessels operating in or passing through the Black Sea. It warned that merchant ships in the region remain exposed to attacks despite being civilian vessels.