Sharjah: All 22 Indian sailors on board are safe after a drone attack on a crude oil tanker near the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal gave this information on social media platform X on Saturday. The Panama-flagged tanker MT JAG 2 was attacked near Sharjah Anchorage on October 9. Following the incident, Indian authorities have maintained contact with the ship’s management company to ensure the safety of the sailors.
The Union Minister said that the situation is being continuously monitored and the safety and well-being of all Indian seafarers is the government’s priority. Recent attacks on commercial vessels in the Gulf region and the Black Sea have raised concerns about international maritime security.
What is the update on the safety of Indian sailors after the drone attack?
The biggest relief after the attack on MT Gem No. 2 is that all the 22 Indian sailors present on the ship are said to be safe. According to Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, constant contact is being made with the concerned company so that information about the condition of the sailors and their needs is available.
Amid growing security risks on sea routes, this incident once again brings to the fore the issue of safety of merchant ships and their crews. The Gulf region is extremely important for global energy supply, so attacks on ships here can also affect international trade.
What initiatives did India take for the safety of sailors and merchant ships?
According to External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, India has launched the ‘Group of Friends on Safety and Security of Shipping and Seafarers’ initiative to enhance international cooperation on issues related to maritime security.
The objective of this group is to bring countries involved in maritime trade on a common platform and work together for the safety of seafarers and commercial vessels. Under this, issues like security challenges on sea routes, welfare of seafarers and international cooperation are discussed.
With which countries did India and Liberia raise their voice together?
The first meeting of this initiative, launched during the United Nations General Assembly, was held in New York. The meeting was co-chaired by India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Liberia’s Foreign Minister Sarah Beslow Nyanti. 25 countries participated in it.
India and Liberia issued a joint statement condemning the attacks on merchant ships in the Gulf region and the Black Sea. Both countries said such attacks affect maritime trade and endanger the lives of innocent people.
What did Jaishankar say on sea attacks?
Foreign Minister Jaishankar emphasising the importance of maritime security, Jaishankar said that India is among the major seafarer-supplying countries in the world. Therefore, it is extremely important to prevent attacks on ships and their crews.
India’s efforts to increase international cooperation on this issue are being made at a time when security challenges are emerging in many major maritime areas. Ensuring the safe passage of merchant ships is not only vital to saving the lives of seafarers but also to maintaining global trade and energy supplies.
