The share of Indian seafarers in the global market projected 20% increase in the next decade

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