India, Liberia Launch Shipping Safety Group As Attacks On Commercial Vessels Rise

India and Liberia have launched a new “Group of Friends on Safety and Security of Shipping and Seafarers” at the United Nations, seeking greater international cooperation to protect commercial vessels and their crews amid a surge in attacks across key maritime routes.

The initiative was announced by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Liberia’s Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti on September 25 on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly in New York. The first meeting was attended by representatives of 25 countries, with India and Liberia serving as co-chairs.

“India, as a major source of seafarers, and Liberia, as the largest shipping registry, have come together to highlight the safety and security of shipping and seafarers,” Jaishankar said. He described repeated attacks on commercial shipping in the Gulf, Red Sea and Black Sea as legally and morally indefensible and called for countries to work together to deter such attacks.

The security concerns have intensified in recent weeks. The International Maritime Organization said 85 incidents had been confirmed in the Strait of Hormuz and the wider Middle East as of September 24. The list includes the September 23 attack on the Antigua and Barbuda-flagged MV Cape Dao, in which one seafarer was killed, as well as attacks on other vessels that left sailors injured or missing.

Jaishankar also highlighted the El Gaia incident in the Strait of Hormuz, where two seafarers were reported missing, and attacks involving other commercial vessels. He said the threats were no longer isolated incidents and were placing civilian crews and global maritime commerce at growing risk.

The new group will focus not only on physical attacks but also on wider problems faced by seafarers, including prolonged confinement aboard vessels, delayed crew changes, difficulties in repatriation, separation from families and psychological distress. Nearly 2 million seafarers operate the world's merchant fleet, according to Jaishankar.

Liberia said the initiative will work within the frameworks of the International Maritime Organization and International Labour Organization, with emphasis on vessel safety, maritime security, environmental standards and seafarer welfare. The group is intended to complement existing international mechanisms rather than duplicate them.