India and Liberia's newly established Group of Friends on Safety and Security of Shipping and Seafarers (GoF on S4) aims to place the protection of commercial vessels and maritime personnel at the centre of international discussions while strengthening cooperation among countries to prevent attacks on shipping, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday.
Addressing a weekly media briefing in New Delhi, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the initiative would bring together countries involved in international shipping, maritime service providers and nations with substantial seafaring communities to develop a coordinated response to growing threats against commercial vessels and their crews.
The remarks came a day after India and Liberia, as co-chairs of the group, strongly condemned a series of attacks on commercial shipping in the Gulf region and the Black Sea, warning that such incidents endangered innocent lives, disrupted maritime commerce and threatened regional stability.
Jaiswal said the central objective of the initiative was to ensure that the safety of seafarers received greater international attention, particularly amid continuing conflicts affecting some of the world's busiest maritime routes.
"The idea is to get them together so that we can bring the issue of the safety of our seafarers and the issue of the safety of commercial shipping to the centre of global discourse and discussion, and we can enhance international cooperation and operations so as to ensure that commercial shipping is not impacted, they are not attacked, and the seafarers are safe and secure," he said.
India, Liberia lead initiative
The Group of Friends on Safety and Security of Shipping and Seafarers was formally launched on September 25, 2026, as a multilateral initiative jointly led by India and Liberia.
Its inaugural meeting in New York was chaired by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Liberian Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti, with representatives from 25 countries participating in the discussions.
The initiative brings together two countries occupying important positions in the global maritime industry. India is a major supplier of trained seafarers to international merchant fleets, while Liberia operates one of the world's largest ship registries by gross tonnage.
The partnership is intended to combine India's interests as a leading provider of maritime personnel with Liberia's responsibilities as a major flag state, creating a platform for stronger international engagement on shipping security.
Jaiswal said the group would seek participation from countries with significant maritime industries, major providers of shipping-related services and nations whose citizens form a substantial part of the global seafaring workforce.
The objective is to promote closer coordination among governments and maritime stakeholders so that commercial vessels can continue operating safely even during periods of heightened geopolitical tension.
Attacks draw condemnation
On Thursday, the Permanent Missions of India and Liberia to the United Nations issued a joint statement condemning recent attacks on commercial vessels and their crews in the Gulf and surrounding waters and the Black Sea.
The two countries described the incidents as unacceptable and called for an immediate end to attacks threatening maritime trade and the lives of seafarers.
The statement emphasised that attacks on civilian commercial shipping could not be justified and warned that continued violence would undermine international trade and regional security.
India and Liberia also expressed condolences to families of seafarers who had lost their lives and wished those injured a speedy recovery.
Both countries reiterated their commitment to strengthening international coordination to discourage further attacks and safeguard the rights and welfare of maritime personnel.
The joint statement followed several incidents involving commercial ships operating in conflict-affected waters, particularly the Black Sea, where maritime traffic has faced persistent security threats amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Indian sailors face risks
Recent attacks on merchant vessels have brought renewed attention to the risks faced by Indian seafarers working aboard foreign-flagged ships.
The MEA earlier condemned attacks on three commercial vessels in the Black Sea — the Togo-flagged Alfa Watan, the Palau-flagged Able and the Liberia-flagged oil tanker Aframax Rio.
According to the ministry, seven Indian nationals were among the 18 crew members aboard Able when it came under attack. All crew members were evacuated with assistance from Bulgarian authorities and taken to Varna, while an injured Indian sailor received medical treatment.
The ministry also confirmed that all 23 crew members aboard Aframax Rio were Indian nationals and had been rescued following a separate attack.
Another incident involved the merchant vessel MV Royad Mammadov, which had three Indian nationals aboard. All three survived, although one sustained injuries and required medical attention.
The incidents highlighted the vulnerability of civilian maritime personnel operating in regions affected by armed conflict, irrespective of the nationality of the vessels on which they serve.
India has maintained communication with relevant countries and maritime authorities to facilitate assistance to affected sailors and ensure that Indian nationals receive necessary support during emergencies.
Wider maritime security concerns
The establishment of GoF on S4 comes amid increasing international concern over threats to commercial shipping in strategically important waterways.
The Gulf region, including the Strait of Hormuz, is particularly significant for international energy transportation, while the Black Sea remains an important route for agricultural commodities, petroleum products and other essential cargo.
Disruptions in these regions can affect shipping schedules, increase insurance and freight costs and create uncertainty in global supply chains.
For India, which depends heavily on maritime transport for international trade and energy imports, the security of commercial sea lanes is closely linked to broader economic stability.
The safety of Indian nationals employed aboard international merchant vessels is an equally important concern, particularly when ships operate under foreign flags or travel through areas experiencing military hostilities.
During the launch of the initiative in September, Jaishankar stressed that attacks on commercial vessels and merchant mariners were legally and morally indefensible and must stop.
Liberian Foreign Minister Nyanti described the initiative as an action-oriented multilateral coalition intended to strengthen maritime policy coordination, improve operational standards and protect people working at sea.
The group is expected to encourage cooperation within the broader international maritime governance framework, including institutions such as the International Maritime Organization and the International Labour Organization.
Focus on coordinated response
The initiative also reflects the need for stronger communication between flag states, countries supplying seafarers, port authorities, shipping companies and international organisations when maritime security incidents occur.
Effective coordination can help authorities exchange information about emerging threats, facilitate emergency assistance, support evacuation operations and ensure that affected crew members receive appropriate medical and consular assistance.
India has already strengthened domestic maritime safety arrangements in response to security developments in the Gulf region and surrounding waters.
The Directorate General of Shipping has issued advisories asking shipping companies and Indian seafarers to exercise heightened vigilance in conflict-affected areas, maintain emergency communication mechanisms and comply with applicable maritime security protocols.
Authorities have also emphasised the importance of prompt reporting of incidents involving Indian crew members so that assistance can be coordinated through diplomatic missions, maritime regulators and other agencies.
The Merchant Shipping Act, 2025, which came into force in March 2026, has further strengthened India's statutory framework for seafarer welfare, including safeguards relating to abandonment, recruitment practices and maritime labour standards.
However, the GoF on S4 is intended to address a broader international challenge that cannot be resolved through domestic regulation alone.
By bringing together countries with different but complementary roles in the maritime industry, India and Liberia hope to strengthen collective engagement on the protection of commercial shipping and the people who operate it.
The MEA reiterated that preventing attacks on merchant vessels and ensuring the safety of seafarers would remain central objectives of the initiative, particularly as continuing conflicts expose civilian maritime personnel to increasing risks.
The effectiveness of the group will ultimately depend on the extent to which participating countries can translate diplomatic coordination into practical measures that improve maritime security, protect seafarers' rights and maintain the uninterrupted movement of international trade.