Indian Seafarers’ Union calls for evacuation of ship’s crew from Chornomorsk port

The Indian embassy said it was keeping a close watch on the situation due to the ongoing risk of Russian shelling.

The Seafarers’ Union of India (FSUI) has appealed to shipping companies and the government to urgently evacuate 13 Indian nationals aboard the bulk carrier MV AMIR1 in the port of Chornomorsk.

“Repeated drone and missile attacks are taking place in the immediate vicinity of the vessel. The crew lives in constant fear that a direct hit could occur at any moment,” the union said in a statement.

According to the Indian embassy in Ukraine, there are 15 crew members on board the vessel, 13 of whom are Indian nationals. The embassy said it was giving the situation “highest priority” and was in constant contact with the shipowner and the Ukrainian side to ensure the safety of the sailors.

The union’s statement came the day after the Indian Ministry of External Affairs summoned Ukrainian Ambassador Oleksandr Polishchuk over the Russian attack on the merchant vessel MV OMORFI near the port of Odesa.

An Indian citizen, a member of the vessel’s crew, died in the attack. New Delhi condemned the attacks on commercial shipping, calling them a threat to maritime safety, freedom of navigation and international trade.

The Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also called for all possible measures to be taken to ensure the safety of civilian seafarers working on merchant vessels in the Black Sea.

Reference. MV AMIR1 is a dry cargo ship with a deadweight of about 5.3 thousand tons under the flag of Tanzania, built in 2009.

Also, as USM wrote, the day before, Russia attacked the same civilian vessel for the third time near the port of Odesa