Sailors and families seek protection amid conflict in West Asia

Seamen and family members of seamen participate in a silent march organized by Mariners Society, Ernakulam, in Kochi on Tuesday against the killing of seamen in military action. | Photo credit: H.VIBHU

Philip Mathews, 68, who left his seafaring career 34 years ago after serving as a captain, says he no longer recognizes the waters he once sailed.

His seafaring career began in 1978 when he was just 20 years old with the Shipping Corporation of India. He left the service in 1992 and started a shipping company in Kochi.

“Back then, seafaring was one of the safest and most peaceful professions. Then pirates appeared on the scene, targeting ships off Somalia and West Asia. The latest conflict in West Asia escalated the risks many times over. How are sailors supposed to deal with bombs and missiles?” asked Mr. Mathews. He stressed that governments must ensure compliance with guidelines set by global organizations such as the International Maritime Organization, the International Trade Federation and the International Labor Organization.

He was among 150 active seamen and families of seamen who took out a silent march under the auspices of Mariners Society, Ernakulam, protesting the killing of seamen in military action. They also held a candlelight vigil against the ongoing war in West Asia and demanded that no collateral damage be caused to sailors. “War has no place at sea,” “Protect the sailor, protect commerce,” and “Safe passage is a human right,” read some of the banners held aloft during the march.

Capt. Sardar Kandathil, 59, an active seaman for the past three decades, said among the many hardships seafarers face are difficulty going ashore in various destinations, including the Persian Gulf, and getting on duty on time due to increasingly complicated visa regulations. “However, the biggest threat is the free fall in employment opportunities caused by the volatile situation in the maritime sector. It threatens to sabotage India’s vision of becoming a global maritime power, despite significant investment in shipbuilding and maritime training institutions to prepare potential seafarers, including many female cadets,” he criticized.

Mr. Kandathil pointed out that the Director General of Shipping’s circular warning to Indian sailors against sailing through the Strait of Hormuz ultimately benefited counterparts from countries such as China and Indonesia. “These nations are helping their seafarers and this will eventually lead to long-term loss of jobs for Indian seafarers,” he said.

Benny Kollassany, secretary of the Mariners Society and a former seafarer with 36 years of experience, said the organization has submitted a memorandum to the chief minister and will soon submit it to the Union government. “India should use its market potential to take the lead in ending the conflict in West Asia. The protracted conflict has driven commodity prices far beyond oil and gas,” he said.

T. Jayanchandran, whose son is currently serving aboard a ship in Vietnam, said the sailors’ families live in a state of constant fear because of the conflict. “Many families are also dependent on the earnings of seafarers who are often the sole breadwinners,” he said.

Published – 28 Jul 2026 21:58 IST