Context
The deaths of three Indian seafarers aboard the merchant vessel Settebello have highlighted the growing risks faced by civilian mariners operating in conflict-affected maritime regions. The incident has renewed focus on strengthening seafarer protection and maritime security amid rising geopolitical tensions.
Institutional Framework for Seafarer Welfare
- Directorate General of Shipping (DGS): It is India’s apex maritime regulator responsible for:
- Seafarer training, certification, and welfare.
- Issuance of Continuous Discharge Certificates (CDCs).
- Implementation of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), 2006.
- Maintenance of a national database of Indian seafarers.
- National Shipping Board: It advises the government on:
- Shipping and merchant marine policies.
- Maritime sector development.
- Measures relating to seafarer welfare and safety.
- Skill Development Initiatives: India promotes maritime workforce development through:
- Pre-sea and apprenticeship training programmes.
- Capacity-building and certification of maritime professionals.
- Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) for experienced seafarers.
Maritime Security Framework
- Maritime Domain Awareness: India has strengthened maritime surveillance through:
- Information Fusion Centre–Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR).
- Coordination among the Indian Navy, Coast Guard, and maritime authorities.
- Real-time monitoring and intelligence-sharing mechanisms.
- Security and Rescue Measures:
- Naval deployments in piracy-prone waters, including the Gulf of Aden.
- Adoption of Best Management Practices (BMPs) for vessels operating in high-risk areas.
- Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres (MRCCs) for search-and-rescue operations.
- Rapid response capabilities during maritime emergencies.
Significance
- Enhances the safety and welfare of Indian seafarers.
- Strengthens maritime security and resilience of global supply chains.
- Supports freedom of navigation and adherence to international maritime law.
- Reinforces India’s position as a major maritime nation and leading provider of seafaring manpower.
- Strengthens India’s role as a net security provider in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
- Highlights the importance of integrating seafarer welfare into maritime security policy.
- Underscores the need for coordinated diplomatic, regulatory, and security responses to evolving maritime threats.
Challenges and Way Forward
| Challenges | Way Forward |
| Growing exposure of seafarers to conflicts and security threats. | Strengthen maritime risk assessment mechanisms and issue timely advisories for high-risk regions. |
| Inadequate risk communication before deployment in conflict-prone areas. | Ensure mandatory risk disclosure and informed consent prior to deployment. |
| Legal uncertainty arising from multiple sanctions regimes. | Develop clear compliance guidelines for shipowners and seafarers. |
| Persistent threats from piracy, armed attacks, and maritime terrorism. | Enhance naval deployments, surveillance capabilities, and maritime security cooperation. |
| Delays in emergency response during crises. | Strengthen search-and-rescue infrastructure and rapid response systems |
| Fragmented coordination among stakeholders. | Establish an integrated inter-ministerial maritime security framework involving regulators, security agencies, shipowners, and seafarers’ representatives. |
| Balancing seafarer welfare with trade and employment considerations. | Adopt a calibrated approach based on periodic threat assessments rather than blanket restrictions. |
| Gaps in real-time intelligence dissemination. | Strengthen maritime domain awareness and improve intelligence-sharing networks.
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Conclusion
As maritime trade increasingly intersects with geopolitical conflicts, safeguarding seafarers must become a core component of maritime governance. Strengthening risk assessment, intelligence sharing, security preparedness, and stakeholder coordination will be essential for protecting Indian seafarers and securing India’s maritime interests.
