The recent escalation of the US-Iran conflict has turned the critical Strait of Hormuz into a combat zone, directly endangering the lives of thousands of Indian seafarers who form the backbone of the shipping industry. This situation has exposed the precarious position of Indian maritime workers, who often operate on foreign-flagged vessels directly in harm's way.

Recently, multiple commercial vessels with Indian crew members have been targeted, including MT Settebello, a Palau-flagged oil tanker struck by US forces on 10 June. Three Indian sailors were killed and 21 others were rescued. On 8 June, MT Marivex, again a Palau-flagged vessel, was disabled by US action with 24 Indian crew members aboard; these were rescued by Oman. Similarly, MT Jalveer was struck on 11 June. This Guinea-flagged vessel had all 20 crew members from India.

India is the world’s third-largest supplier of seafarers, accounting for roughly ten per cent of the global workforce. For Indian seafarers, these jobs offer unmatched financial opportunities. As of 2025, there are over 500,000 registered seafarers in India. Almost 320,000 are actively deployed at sea at any given time. Over 18,000 Indian seafarers are currently estimated to be in the high-risk Gulf region alone.

Let us understand the role of the 'Flag of Convenience'. This is when a ship is registered in a foreign country to reduce operating costs and avoid stricter regulations in the owner's home nation. This allows vessels to quickly obtain a flag from anywhere in the world, often within just 3–4 days, and operate with far less regulatory oversight. These flags, often from........

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