The advisory, issued by the Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DGMA) on Thursday,(23 July) comes days after a Russian attack on the cargo vessel MV Golden Leo departing Ukraine’s Port of Odesa, which resulted in the deaths of four Indian nationals.

The maritime authority has directed shipowners, operators and masters to undertake voyage-specific security risk assessments before entering the Black Sea and to continuously monitor the evolving security situation. According to the DGMA, there have been 10 attacks involving Indian seafarers aboard foreign-flagged vessels since April 2026. These incidents highlight the growing risks faced by merchant vessels operating in the conflict-affected region.      Among the reported incidents were attacks on the foreign-flagged tankers MT Asia, MT Louise-1, and MT Nelsa near Novorossiysk. The attacks caused damage to the vessels and forced Indian crew members to abandon their ships.       Following the attack on MV Golden Leo, the Government of India lodged a strong diplomatic protest by summoning Russia’s senior envoy in New Delhi and conveying its unequivocal condemnation of the incident.      The latest advisory follows another precautionary measure issued by the DGMA last week, asking Indian and foreign shipowners to refrain from deploying Indian seafarers on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, citing heightened regional security concerns.      India remains one of the world’s largest suppliers of merchant marine personnel. According to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, the country had more than 320,000 active seafarers in 2025, making the safety and security of Indian maritime professionals a key priority for the government amid escalating geopolitical tensions.