Union Demands PM Crisis Team After Sharjah Tanker Attack
Following a drone attack on a tanker at Sharjah Anchorage, the FSUI calls for a high-level crisis team under the PM to protect Indian seafarers.
The Federation of Seafarers’ Unions of India (FSUI) has urgently called for the formation of a high-level crisis management team under the Prime Minister to safeguard Indian maritime workers. This demand follows a terrifying drone attack on the Panama-flagged crude oil tanker, MT GEM NO. 2, at the Sharjah Anchorage.
While the incident has sparked massive security concerns, there is a sense of relief regarding the lives involved. All 22 Indian crew members aboard the vessel were reported safe following the projectile and drone strike that occurred on Friday.
A Growing Threat in Global Waters
Manoj Yadav, the General Secretary of the FSUI, highlighted that this is not an isolated incident. He pointed to a disturbing pattern of attacks on commercial vessels in volatile maritime corridors. According to Yadav, the risks are escalating in several key regions:
- The Black Sea: Multiple vessels, including the MV Royad Mammadov, have faced continuous threats.
- The Strait of Hormuz: A critical choke point seeing increased maritime aggression.
- The Persian Gulf: An area where Indian crews are increasingly finding themselves in the crosshairs of conflict.
"If you want to be at sea, if you want to be in the global market, then I believe that it is high time that one high-level management crisis team under the Prime Minister has to be constituted," Yadav stated, emphasizing that such a team must integrate the defence establishment, the Navy, and the shipping industry.
Government Monitoring the Situation
Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, confirmed the details of the attack via social media. He reassured the nation that the government is staying close to the situation to ensure the safety of the Indian nationals involved.
In a post on X, the Minister stated:
"On Oct 9, Panama-flagged crude oil tanker MT GEM NO. 2, carrying a crew of 22 Indian nationals, was subjected to a drone attack at Sharjah Anchorage. I am relieved to share that all 22 of our Indian seafarers onboard are reported to be completely safe."
The Minister further added that authorities are maintaining constant communication with the ship management company to monitor the security and well-being of the crew. The incident underscores the growing security challenges facing international maritime trade and the vulnerability of the workforce that keeps the global economy moving.