India has condemned the attack on MV ROYAD MAMMADOV in the Black Sea, in which two foreign seafarers were killed. Some members of the crew, including Indian nationals, were injured in the attack. The injured have been rescued by Romanian authorities and are receiving medical attention. The three Indian nationals, who were part crew of the ship, are safe. New Delhi has thanked Romanian authorities for their swift action in this incident.
External Affairs Ministry said in a statement that India views these attacks on commercial shipping and seafarers with grave concern. It said the targeting of traffic in international waterways is severely undermining global commerce and welfare of people across the world. New Delhi continues to call for dialogue and diplomacy to bring an end to the ongoing conflicts.
Earlier, in September this year, India and Liberia launched a new 25-nation “Group of Friends on Safety and Security of Shipping and Seafarers” during the UN General Assembly to ensure safety and security of merchant crews and commercial shipping against targeted attacks.
