Indian merchant ships should avoid Shinas Anchorage, the Ship Workers’ Union told the Centre

Representative file image. | Photo credit: Reuters

The Forward Seamen’s Union of India (FSUI), a trade union of commercial shipping workers, has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding that the Union government issue immediate advice to all Indian shipping companies and vessels to exercise extreme caution or avoid the Shinas Anchorage maritime zone or the Oman Outer Port Limit (OPL) area until the situation in West Asia stabilizes.

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The FSUI also asked Mr. Modi to consider coordinated naval or intelligence support measures to protect India’s maritime interests in the Persian Gulf region in the wake of recent attacks on Indian ships.

The recent incidents of attack have underlined the extreme vulnerability of commercial shipping in this corridor, FSUI president Bankim Bharati and general secretary Manoj Yadav said in the letter.

“Indian seafarers and maritime interests are at significant risk with potential implications for India’s energy security, trade routes and the safety of our nationals serving aboard merchant ships,” they said, urging the government to strengthen diplomatic engagement with Oman and other regional stakeholders for better protection of merchant shipping.

“Provide the necessary guidance and support mechanisms for vessels currently operating in or near these high-risk zones. The safety of Indian seafarers and the uninterrupted flow of energy imports must remain a national priority,” they said.

The FSUI said the OPL area in the Sultanate of Oman has become one of the most sensitive and high-risk zones for merchant vessels, especially vessels carrying Indian or Indian tankers, due to ongoing regional military tensions and conflict-related activities in the Persian Gulf.

Citing recent findings from the area, the letter added that sailors are facing challenges such as direct attacks on vessels allegedly involved in transporting Iranian-origin oil. There is an increased presence of naval forces conducting surveillance and enforcement operations, they said. Vessels suspected of engaging in sanctions-related trade have also faced detention, boarding or attacks. Repeated GPS signal interruptions and suspected GPS spoofing/jamming affecting safe navigation are also recorded along the route, they said.

Mr. Yadav welcomed the reported peace deal between the United States and Iran and demanded that the US pay fair compensation of at least $5 million to the families of the four sailors killed in the missile attack — Chief Engineer Patnala Suresh, Flight Cadet Aditya Sharma, Fitter Shivanand Chaurashiya and Second Officer Nishanth Uirthanathan, who did not receive timely medical attention.

Published – 15 Jun 2026 21:41 IST