London, March 20 (ANI): India’s High Commissioner to the UK, Vikram Doraiswamy, reiterated India’s commitment to seafarers’ safety, freedom of navigation, maritime security and protecting trade and energy supply chains while addressing the 36th extraordinary session of the IMO Council in London.
Expressing deep concern about the evolving situation, Doraiswamy called for de-escalation through dialogue and diplomacy, urging utmost restraint and prioritising civilian safety. Condoling the loss of innocent lives, including three Indian seafarers, he stressed that attacks on commercial shipping and civilian maritime infrastructure are unacceptable.
Doraiswamy highlighted India’s 24×7 helpline for affected seafarers and the Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR), established by India in 2018 and hosted by the Indian Navy, which assists in information sharing and coordinating rescue efforts. He noted India is among the top three seafarer-supplying nations, contributing about 13% of the global seafaring workforce, and voiced deep concern for the safety and welfare of all seafarers.
“Targeting commercial shipping, endangering civilian crews, and impeding safe and free navigation through international waterways, including the Strait of Hormuz, are unacceptable,” Doraiswamy said, stressing that merchant vessels’ navigational rights and freedoms under international law must be respected.
The IMO Council strongly condemned threats and attacks against merchant ships and the purported closure of the Strait of Hormuz, citing impacts on merchant vessels and seafarers’ safety, and referenced UN Security Council Resolution 2817. At the session, the Council encouraged establishing frameworks, such as a maritime safety corridor, to allow voluntary safe evacuation of merchant vessels from high-risk areas to safer locations.
The Council called for an internationally coordinated response and urged all attacks on ships affecting civilian seafarers to cease immediately, while asking Member States to ensure continuous provision of water, food, fuel and other essentials to ships unable to leave the region.
The Extraordinary Session, convened after requests from several Member States, drew participation from more than 120 Member States, including all 40 IMO Council members. At present, 24 Indian-flagged vessels operate in the Persian Gulf region: 22 vessels west of the Strait of Hormuz with 611 Indian seafarers aboard, and two vessels east of the Strait with 47 seafarers.
In closing remarks, the IMO Secretary-General said: “Let it be the responsibility of each and every one of us to demonstrate that inaction is not an option, that words alone are not sufficient. Together, we can drive the change required to protect the wellbeing of those who have no voice and safeguard the principle of freedom of navigation.”
(This content is sourced from a syndicated feed and is published as received. The Tribune assumes no responsibility or liability for its accuracy, completeness, or content.)
