Indian commercial ships should avoid Shinas Anchorage, shipworkers’ union tells Centre

Forward Seamen’s Union of India (FSUI), a trade union of employees working on commercial ships, has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding that the Union government issue immediate advisories to all Indian shipping companies and vessels to exercise extreme caution or avoid the Shinas Anchorage maritime zone or the Oman Outer Port Limit (OPL) areas until the situation in West Asia stabilises.

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The FSUI has also asked Mr. Modi to consider coordinated naval or intelligence support measures to safeguard Indian maritime interests in the Gulf region against the backdrop of the recent attacks on Indian ships.

The recent incidents of attack have underscored the extreme vulnerability of commercial shipping in this corridor, FSUI president Bankim Bharati and general secretary Manoj Yadav said in the letter.

“Indian seafarers and maritime interests are at significant risk, with potential implications for India’s energy security, trade routes, and the safety of our nationals serving onboard merchant vessels,” they said, urging the government to enhance diplomatic engagement with Oman and other regional stakeholders for improved protection of merchant shipping.

“Provide necessary guidance and support mechanisms for vessels currently operating in or transiting near these high-risk zones. The safety of Indian seafarers and the uninterrupted flow of energy imports must remain a national priority,” they said.

The FSUI said the OPL area in the Sultanate of Oman has emerged as one of the most sensitive and high risk zones for merchant vessels, particularly vessels with Indian or Indian-interest tankers, due to ongoing regional military tensions and conflict-related activities in the Gulf.

The letter, citing recent findings from the area, added that the seafarers face issues such as direct attacks on vessels allegedly involved in the transportation of Iranian-origin oil. There is increased presence of naval forces conducting surveillance and enforcement operations, they said. Also, the vessels suspected of participating in sanctions-related trade faced interception, boarding, or attacks. Repeated GPS signal interruptions and suspected GPS spoofing/interference affecting safe navigation are also noted along the route, they said.

Mr. Yadav, welcoming the reported United States-Iran peace deal, demanded the U.S. pay fair compensation of not less than $5 million to the families of the four seafarers killed by a missile attack — chief engineer Patnala Suresh, deck cadet Aditya Sharma, fitter Shivanand Chaurashiya, and second officer Nishanth Uirthanathan, who did not receive medical aid on time due to the blockade.