Co‑chairs of GOF on S4 call for immediate end to vessel attacks

As co‑chairs of the Group of Friends on Safety and Security of Shipping and Seafarers, India and Liberia issued a strong call for the swift cessation of attacks on merchant ships operating in the Gulf and the Black Sea. The statement, shared via the UN mission’s X platform, denounced the assaults as unacceptable and harmful to international commerce.

The nations expressed solidarity with the families of seafarers who lost their lives and extended wishes for a speedy recovery to those injured.

Four attacks were outlined: the MV Rayod Mammadov, carrying three Indians, was struck in the Black Sea with one injury; the Al‑Fawtan, flying the flag of Togo, faced an assault on Tuesday; a drone targeted the Palau‑flagged MB Cable, leading to a Bulgarian rescue of all 18 crew members, including seven Indians, one of whom remains under treatment; and the Liberian‑registered oil tanker Aframax Rio, with 23 Indian nationals aboard, was rescued, though one crew member is hospitalized.

India and Liberia reaffirmed their commitment to collaborate closely, strengthen coordination mechanisms, and ensure that seafarers’ safety and rights are protected against any future threats.