After the attack on MSV Faize Noore Oliya off the coast of Yemen, the Forward Seamen’s Union of India (FSUI) has renewed its demand for the government to deploy the Indian Navy to protect Indian-flagged ships and Indian seafarers operating in the Red Sea, the Strait of Hormuz and the Black Sea.
But can India realistically send its naval forces to escort merchant ships through active conflict zones? The short answer is yes, but not easily. While India has previously deployed the Navy to protect commercial shipping from piracy, escorting merchant vessels through active theatres of conflict presents far greater military, diplomatic and legal challenges.
Here’s why.
Why is the seafarers’ union demanding Navy deployment?
The immediate trigger was the latest attack on the Indian-flagged vessel, which sank after being hit by a projectile near Yemeni waters. All 14 crew members, including 13 Indians, were rescued and taken to the Port of Mokha for medical assistance.
The incident has reinforced concerns that commercial shipping has become increasingly vulnerable as conflicts in West Asia and Eastern Europe continue to disrupt major sea routes.
The Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz are among the world’s most strategically important maritime corridors. A significant share of global oil supplies and commercial cargo passes through these waterways, making any disruption a concern not only for shipping companies but also for energy markets and global trade.
FSUI General Secretary Manoj Yadav said the union had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the beginning of the Iran-Israel conflict, seeking stronger protection for Indian seafarers.
“We had already sent the same type of letter at the start of the conflict… asking for support to deploy the Indian Navy in that area,” Yadav told CNBC-TV18.
According to him, issuing advisories alone is no longer enough.
“It is high time for India to step in to protect Indian seafarers… and to secure our jobs rather than just issuing advisories restricting them from joining ships.”
How many Indian seafarers are operating in conflict zones?
India is one of the world’s largest suppliers of merchant navy personnel, with Indian sailors serving on ships owned and operated by companies across the globe.
According to Yadav, around 23,000 Indian seafarers were working in the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf when tensions escalated. He estimates that at least 15,000 remain in the region.
He also said the union has recorded 14 casualties since February, apart from three missing seafarers linked to incidents in the Black Sea and the Strait of Hormuz. The figures are still being updated as merchant vessels continue to transit through conflict-affected waters.
Can’t Indian sailors simply refuse dangerous voyages?
Legally, they can.
Under the Maritime Labour Convention, which India has ratified, seafarers have the right to refuse sailing into dangerous waters without losing their wages.
However, unions argue that exercising that right is often difficult in practice.
More than 80% of Indian seafarers work on foreign-flagged vessels owned by overseas companies. Refusing an assignment could damage their employment prospects or even lead to blacklisting by shipping companies.
“Yes, they have the right,” Yadav said, but added that many hesitate because India is primarily a labour-supplying nation and workers fear losing future assignments.
He also noted that many crew members are unaware they are heading into conflict zones until voyage plans are finalised by ship operators or charterers.
Why isn’t deploying the Indian Navy a straightforward solution?
While the union’s demand may appear logical, strategic affairs expert Anju Gupta said escorting commercial vessels through an active conflict zone involves significant military, diplomatic and legal challenges.
She pointed out that even the United States, despite its much larger naval presence, has struggled to provide escorts for merchant vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
“If America cannot afford to send in its ships or get ships out of the Strait of Hormuz, is it believable that India would be able to do that?” Gupta said.
She added that most merchant vessels have continued to transit without dedicated naval escorts and, in some cases, have relied on protection provided by regional actors.
Unlike anti-piracy patrols, escorting merchant ships through an active conflict zone could involve operating close to the territorial waters and naval forces of multiple countries, raising complex operational, diplomatic and legal questions.
How is this different from anti-piracy missions?
India has previously deployed the Navy for anti-piracy operations under missions such as Operation Sankalp and as part of international efforts in the Gulf of Aden.
However, Gupta said conflict-related deployments are fundamentally different.
Anti-piracy operations typically target non-state actors and are often conducted through multinational security arrangements with broad diplomatic backing. Escorting merchant ships during an armed regional conflict is far more complex because naval forces may have to operate in proximity to multiple sovereign states and active military operations, increasing both operational risks and the possibility of escalation.
“It’s not that a navy will simply go and park itself in certain waters where there is danger and start operating,” she said.
“I don’t think it happens like that, at least not for a country like India, which believes in following international rules and norms.”
What options does India have?
India has condemned the attack on the Indian-flagged vessel as “unprovoked” and has called for free and unimpeded navigation through international waterways. The Ministry of External Affairs said the Indian Embassy in Riyadh is coordinating with Yemeni authorities to ensure the safety of the rescued crew.
For now, diplomatic engagement, international coordination, advisories and close monitoring of shipping routes remain India’s primary tools for protecting its seafarers and commercial interests.
The latest attack, however, has reignited debate over whether those measures are sufficient as maritime security risks spread across the Red Sea, the Strait of Hormuz and the Black Sea.
While India has the capability to deploy naval assets if required, experts say routinely escorting merchant vessels through active conflict zones is neither a simple military decision nor an operationally straightforward one. Any such move would require sustained naval resources, extensive diplomatic coordination and careful assessment of the risks involved, underscoring why protecting Indian seafarers in some of the world’s most volatile waters remains a far more complex challenge than simply deploying warships.