Archive · 9 Aug 2026
India repatriates over 4,000 seafarers stranded amid West Asia conflict
Many Indian sailors work on ships that sail in the sea near West Asia.
A war in that part of the world made it very dangerous for them.
The Indian government helped more than 4,000 of these sailors come back home safely.
A minister named Sarbananda Sonowal told everyone about this on Saturday.
He said the government stands with the sailors, like a friend who protects them.
India now gives more sailors to ships around the world than almost any other country.
The government answered more than 40,000 messages to help bring everyone home.
One Indian ship was attacked near Yemen, and all 14 people on board were saved.
The government says keeping sailors safe is one of its most important jobs.
Over 4,000 Indian seafarers were safely repatriated amid the West Asia conflict, with Captain Bipen Kumar citing 4,076 as of August 6, 2026.
Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal announced the repatriation at a stakeholders' interaction on seafarer safety, security and welfare.
India's active seafarer workforce has crossed 3.23 lakh, making it the world's 2nd-largest provider of seafarers.
The DGMA monitored over 16,000 calls and handled more than 40,000 communications to coordinate the repatriation effort.
The MEA termed safety of Indian vessels and seafarers of 'high importance' after all 14 crew members, including 13 Indians, of MSV Faize Noore Oliya were rescued off Yemen.
- Who
- Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, the DGMA, the Ministry of External Affairs, the Indian Navy, the Indian Coast Guard and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- What
- The safe repatriation of more than 4,000 stranded Indian seafarers amid the West Asia conflict and the response to the sinking of the Indian-flagged vessel MSV Faize Noore Oliya.
- When
- Announced on Saturday; Captain Bipen Kumar reported 4,076 repatriations as of August 6, 2026.
- Where
- India, with the vessel incident occurring in the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen and rescued crew brought to the Port of Mokha.
- Why
- The West Asia conflict endangered Indian seafarers, and an unprovoked attack sank the mechanised sailing vessel MSV Faize Noore Oliya.
- Repatriated seafarers
- More than 4,000 (Captain Bipen Kumar cited 4,076 as of August 6, 2026)
- Announcement
- Saturday, at a DGMA stakeholders' interaction on seafarer safety and welfare
- India's seafarer workforce
- Over 3.23 lakh; world's 2nd-largest provider of seafarers
- Communications handled
- Over 40,000
- Calls monitored
- Over 16,000
- Attacked vessel
- MSV Faize Noore Oliya (Indian-flagged, in the Red Sea off Yemen)
- Crew rescued
- All 14 seafarers, including 13 Indians, rescued by the Yemeni Coast Guard
- Platform launched
- E-Samudra, an integrated e-governance and digital maritime services platform