Safety of Seafarers remains volatile due to conflict: Significant rise in attacks on ships in Hormuz

[00:00:00]India has condemned the Odessa attack that killed four Indian seafarers. The issue of safety of seafarers takes center stage once again. Amidst recent regional conflicts, global shipping has faced numerous threats that challenge the long-established right to freedom of navigation for merchant ships, putting at risk the lives of civilian sailors.

[00:00:24]>> The safety of seafarers has been severely compromised in two major maritime theaters linked to Russia-Ukraine conflict and Iran-related tensions.

[00:00:34]On July 19, the Russia missile strike on a ship carrying corn in your Ukraine's southern port of Odessa killed 10 people, including four Indian nationals, with other Syrian and a Ukrainian pilot.

[00:00:46]While in Iran-related conflicts, Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen intensified attacks from late 2023 targeting ships in solidarity with Palestinians linked to Israel-Hamas tensions. This escalated into the broader Iran-involved crisis, particularly in the Strait of Hormuz in 2026 amid direct US-Israel-Iran hostilities.

[00:01:09]So, what are the different instruments available globally to protect global shipping? Let's take a look.

[00:01:16]The International Maritime Organization is the United Nations specialized agency with responsibility for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine and atmospheric pollution by ships.

[00:01:29]IMO protects global shipping from attacks primarily through diplomatic resolutions, International Ship and Port Facility Security ISPS Code, and industry-developed best management practices BMP.

[00:01:44]International Ship and Port Facility Security ISPS Code is a comprehensive mandatory framework under SOLAS, or Safety of Life at Sea, that ensures the security of ships and port facilities worldwide. Under the UN's SOLAS Convention, all vessels over 500 gross tonnage must implement comprehensive on-board security plans overseen by their flag states to mitigate external threats and acts of terrorism. Best Management Practices BMP for maritime security is a global consolidated industry standard designed to help vessels detect, avoid, deter, delay, and report security incidents.

[00:02:27]United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea lays down a comprehensive regime of law and order for the world's oceans, establishing rules for the allocation of states' rights and jurisdiction in maritime spaces, the peaceful use of the oceans, and the management of their resources.

[00:02:45]Often referred to as the constitution for the oceans, it spans 320 articles to balance national sovereignty with international rights. It was adopted in 1982 and entered into force in 1994.

[00:02:58]Notably, in the Iran-US conflict, neither the United States nor Iran has ratified the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, UNCLOS, but both invoke UNCLOS principles differently in the Strait of Hormuz.

[00:03:12]Amidst the escalating maritime security crisis in West Asia, India launched a comprehensive seafarer first response, directing an unprecedented whole-of-government approach to safeguard every Indian seafarer operating in the conflict-affected region. Bureau Report, DD India.