Certainly! Here are some recent news highlights related to Indian
seafarers:
1.
Recapture of Somali Pirate Ship by Indian Navy:
o In March 2024, India’s navy successfully recaptured
the MV Ruen, a Bulgarian-owned bulk carrier, from Somali pirates
off the Indian coast. The ship had been hijacked in December 2023, marking the
first successful boarding of a cargo vessel by Somali pirates since 2017. The
Indian warship Kolkata cornered and coerced the 35 pirates to surrender,
ensuring the safe evacuation of the 17 crew members. The rescued crew included
nationals from Bulgaria, Myanmar, and Angola. The MV Ruen was recaptured nearly
1,400 nautical miles from the Indian coast after being monitored by the Indian
navy since its seizure by pirates1.
2.
Training in Polar and Arctic Waters:
o India and Russia have agreed to train Indian
seafarers in polar and arctic waters. This collaboration aims to widen
maritime cooperation and explore new transport corridors, including the
Northern Sea Route and the Eastern Maritime Corridor2.
3.
Rescue Operation by the Indian Coast Guard:
o The Indian Coast Guard rescued seven seafarers from
Tamil Nadu in February 2022. These seafarers had clung to a
partially submerged lifeboat in the sea for nearly 10 hours after their boat
sank due to heavy inflow of seawater off the Kalpeni coast3.
4.
Rising Demand for Indian Seafarers Globally:
o The demand for skilled Indian seafarers from foreign
ship-owners is expected to rise significantly in the coming years. Aging seafarer populations in Europe
contribute to this trend, and the share of Indian seafarers in the global
market is projected to increase up to 20% over the next decade4.
These news items highlight the importance of Indian
seafarers in global maritime operations and underscore the need for continued
training and security measures in the industry.
1, heguardian.com 2. indianexpress.com3. timesofindia.indiatimes.com4 infra.economictimes.indiatimes.com