A merchant sailing vessel, the MSV Faize Noore Oliya, sank on August 4 after being struck by a projectile near Yemeni waters. Fortunately, the Yemeni Coast Guard managed to rescue all 14 crew members, 13 of whom are Indian nationals, and transported them safely to the Port of Mokha. Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal publicly denounced the unprovoked assault on the defenseless ship and confirmed that the government is coordinating with maritime authorities to provide full support to the survivors and bolster the protection of Indian sailors operating in volatile regions.

This incident marks a worrying trend, as it follows a string of recent attacks on Indian-flagged or crewed vessels across various international waters. With India standing as a global leader in providing merchant sailors, recent casualties and security threats in the Black Sea and near Iranian waters have caused significant concern within the maritime community. Government agencies are now working closely with international partners to ensure the safety of their massive seafaring workforce, which currently includes over 320,000 active personnel serving on merchant vessels worldwide.