Union Calls on Indian Government, IMO and Relevant Authorities to Ensure Safe Sign-Off and Repatriation of Seafarers
NEW DELHI: The Federation of Seafarers’ Unions of India (FSUI) has called for urgent intervention by the Government of India and relevant international maritime authorities following a reported direct warning from the Iranian Navy to MV New Born, carrying 22 seafarers, including 19 Indian nationals.
According to FSUI, the vessel received a radio warning from the Iranian Navy directing it to leave the area immediately and proceed to Dubai anchorage, accompanied by a threat of being targeted if it failed to comply. The reported development has raised serious concerns about the safety and security of the crew amid heightened risks in the region surrounding the Strait of Hormuz.
FSUI stated that the vessel had been operating under severe pressure at Mina Saqr and was reportedly in Kuwait before sailing again in the vicinity of the Strait of Hormuz. The union expressed particular concern that the crew members had repeatedly sought sign-off and repatriation but had allegedly received no response from the shipowner and vessel manager.
According to FSUI, the seafarers remain onboard despite the reported security threats and their requests to leave the vessel. The situation has prompted renewed calls for the protection of seafarers’ lives, the fulfilment of shipowners’ responsibilities and compliance with applicable maritime safety standards.
FSUI has urged the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, the Directorate General of Shipping, the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the vessel’s flag State, and the relevant authorities in the UAE and Kuwait, along with the shipowner and manager, to intervene without delay.
The union has called for immediate measures to assess the vessel’s security situation, facilitate the safe sign-off of crew members who have requested repatriation, and arrange their safe return home. It has also emphasised the need for effective coordination among the concerned authorities to prevent further exposure of the crew to potential danger.
The incident underscores the importance of prioritising seafarers’ welfare and ensuring that requests for assistance and repatriation in high-risk maritime areas receive timely attention. FSUI has stressed that the safety of seafarers must remain paramount and that appropriate action is required to protect those onboard MV New Born.
FSUI’s appeal is clear: immediate intervention, safe disembarkation and repatriation for those requesting it, and the protection of every seafarer onboard.
