3 hrs ago
India and Liberia Launch Group to Protect Ships, Seafarers
India and Liberia created a group to help protect ships and the people who work on them.
The group was announced during a meeting connected to the United Nations General Assembly.
India supplies many seafarers, while Liberia has the world’s largest shipping registry by tonnage.
The countries will lead the group together.
India’s foreign minister, S. Jaishankar, said attacks on ships have become too common.
He mentioned one attack that killed an Indian sailor and another in which an Indian crew member went missing.
Ships and seafarers also face dangers such as delayed crew changes, separation from families and psychological distress.
The new group will encourage countries and maritime organizations to work together.
Its goal is to make sea travel safer and give seafarers more support.
India and Liberia launched the Group of Friends on Safety and Security of Shipping and Seafarers at a ministerial meeting alongside the 81st United Nations General Assembly.
The two countries will serve as co-chairs of an inclusive platform involving ship-owning states, major shipping registries and leading seafarer-supplying countries.
S. Jaishankar condemned repeated attacks on commercial shipping in the Gulf, Red Sea, Black Sea and nearby waters as indefensible and unacceptable.
Recent incidents cited included an attack on the MV Cape Dao in the Gulf of Oman that killed an Indian sailor and a strike on the El Gaia tanker that left an Indian crew member missing.
The group will promote cooperation, information-sharing and practical measures to improve maritime safety and support seafarers facing conflict-related risks.
- Who
- India and Liberia, with S. Jaishankar and Liberia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti launching the initiative.
- What
- They launched the Group of Friends on Safety and Security of Shipping and Seafarers, with India and Liberia serving as co-chairs.
- Where
- At a ministerial-level meeting on the margins of the high-level United Nations General Assembly session.
- When
- September 25, during the 81st United Nations General Assembly.
- Why
- To respond to repeated attacks on commercial shipping and strengthen international cooperation on maritime safety and seafarer support.
Key facts
- Initiative
- Group of Friends on Safety and Security of Shipping and Seafarers
- Founding countries
- India and Liberia
- Leadership
- India and Liberia will serve as co-chairs
- India’s role
- A major source country for seafarers
- Liberia’s role
- Host of the largest shipping registry by tonnage
- Recent incident
- An attack on the Antigua and Barbuda-flagged MV Cape Dao in the Gulf of Oman killed an Indian sailor
- Proposed cooperation
- The group will exchange views, share experiences and promote practical cooperation through international and maritime organizations
Quotes
S. Jaishankar
India’s External Affairs Minister
“From the Black Sea to the Red Sea to the Gulf, attacks on civilian shipping have become a growing cause of concern. These actions that disrupt maritime commerce and cost innocent lives are simply indefensible. We are here to not just highlight this dangerous trend, but to urge the international community to close ranks and deter such attacks”
theprint.in
“Our initiative is meant to add to the factors of stability and confidence in what is otherwise an uncertain and turbulent world, and to signal that the international community cannot just be a spectator, or indeed a victim of violence.”
theprint.in
Sources
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