The Foreign Ministry said the security situation in and around the Black Sea and adjacent maritime areas remains “highly volatile” due to the ongoing conflict.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Sunday issued an advisory urging Indian citizens to carefully assess security risks before accepting jobs on board commercial vessels operating in or transiting the Black Sea region, citing an increase in missile and drone attacks that have claimed the lives of five Indians since April.
The Foreign Ministry said the security situation in and around the Black Sea and adjacent maritime areas remains “highly volatile” due to the ongoing conflict, with commercial ships facing significant threats while operating in the region.
“Since April 2026, there has been an increase in the number of such incidents on commercial vessels, which has also resulted in the tragic loss of five Indian lives,” the statement said.
Middle East Airlines urges “careful risk assessment”
The bulletin asked Indian nationals planning to work on board merchant ships in the conflict-affected region to “carefully evaluate the prevailing security risks before accepting such assignments.”
It has also established a series of precautions for those who choose to undertake this job.
MEA advised seafarers to obtain detailed information from employers, recruitment agencies and ship operators about the vessel’s intended route, ports of call, security arrangements, insurance coverage and emergency response procedures before joining.
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