India summons US diplomat again after 3rd attack on Indian ship in 4 days
India on Friday summoned US Charg d'Affaires Jason Meeks for the second time this week after another merchant vessel carrying 20 Indian crew members came
India on Friday summoned US Charg d'Affaires Jason Meeks for the second time this week after another merchant vessel carrying 20 Indian crew members came under attack off the coast of Oman, marking the third such incident involving Indian sailors in just four days. The American diplomat was called in by the Additional Secretary (Americas) in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), as New Delhi stepped up its diplomatic response to the escalating threat to commercial shipping in the Gulf region. Read Full Story The latest summons came hours after the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) issued a fresh maritime security advisory for nearly 18,000 Indian seafarers operating in and around the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf of Oman and adjoining waters, following a series of attacks on merchant vessels.
The advisory was prompted by three recent incidents involving ships with Indian crew members on board, including a deadly attack off the Omani coast that claimed the lives of three Indian seafarers. The first incident involved MT Marivex on June 8, when a fire broke out aboard the tanker following what maritime security sources described as a suspected strike. All 24 Indian crew members on board were reported safe. The second attack occurred on June 10, when MT Settebello came under fire in the Gulf of Oman. The tanker had 24 Indian crew members on board.
While 21 sailors were rescued, three Indians who were initially reported missing were later confirmed dead. The third incident was reported on Thursday, when another merchant vessel carrying Indian crew members was attacked off the coast of Oman, further raising concerns over the safety of commercial shipping in the region. Multiple reports identified the vessel as MT Jalveer, which was carrying 20 Indian crew members. However, officials have yet to disclose the exact nature of the incident. According to official estimates, 622 Indian seafarers aboard 13 India-flagged vessels are currently operating in waters to the west and east of the Strait of Hormuz.
Nearly 18,000 Indian nationals are employed on hundreds of foreign-flagged merchant ships across the wider Gulf region, making India one of the countries most exposed to the deteriorating maritime security situation. India has the world's second-largest seafaring workforce, with around 3.2 lakh Indian seafarers serving on vessels globally. Ends
The BriefWire