India Advises Citizens to Avoid Maritime Jobs in Conflict Zones Without Assessing Security Risks

NEW DELHI, July 26: India on Sunday advised its citizens to carefully evaluate the security situation before accepting jobs on commercial vessels operating in conflict-affected maritime regions, particularly the Black Sea, citing escalating risks due to the ongoing conflict. In an advisory, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the security environment in and around the Black Sea remains highly volatile, with commercial ships facing increasing threats from missile and drone attacks. The advisory follows the deaths of five Indian nationals in separate attacks on two commercial vessels in the Black Sea region over the past week. The MEA urged Indian seafarers to assess prevailing security risks before accepting employment in the region and to exercise the utmost caution if they choose to do so. It advised job seekers to obtain complete information from employers, recruitment agencies and ship operators regarding the vessel’s intended route, ports of call, onboard security arrangements, insurance coverage and emergency response procedures. The Ministry also stressed that employment contracts should comply with international maritime standards and include adequate provisions for medical care, evacuation, repatriation and compensation in case of emergencies. Additionally, Indian nationals were advised to keep their families informed of their travel plans, maintain regular contact, and reach out to Indian embassies or consulates in the region if they require consular assistance. The government reiterated its commitment to the safety of Indian citizens working overseas and urged seafarers to make informed decisions before taking up assignments in high-risk maritime zones.