Indians Account For Nearly Half Of Sailors Killed In Iran War

India-West News Desk

NEW DELHI–Indian nationals accounted for seven of the 16 seafarers killed in attacks on commercial vessels during the Strait of Hormuz shipping crisis between March 1 and July 14, 2026, according to an analysis by NDTV Datafy based on data from the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations and the International Maritime Organization.

The analysis found that Indians made up nearly 44 percent of those killed, despite accounting for only about 12 percent of the global seafaring workforce.

Three Indian crew members were killed in attacks by U.S. forces on the oil tankers MT Marivex, MT Settebello, and MT Jalveer between June 8 and June 11. Four others lost their lives in attacks believed to have been carried out by Iran.

The attacks also placed hundreds of Indian seafarers in harm’s way. More than 180 Indians were rescued after the vessels they were serving on came under attack in the Strait of Hormuz, the Persian Gulf, and the Gulf of Oman, according to the analysis.

The findings also highlight another challenge facing Indian seafarers – abandonment by shipowners. Under the Maritime Labor Convention, a seafarer is considered abandoned if a shipowner fails to repatriate the crew member, provide essential support, or pay wages for at least two months.

According to the International Transport Workers’ Federation, Indians were the worst-affected nationality for ship abandonment in both 2024 and 2025. In 2025, 1,125 Indian seafarers were abandoned, accounting for about 18 percent of the 6,223 abandonment cases recorded worldwide. Filipinos were the second-most affected nationality with 539 cases, followed by Syrians with 309.

The report comes as India seeks to expand its presence in the global maritime workforce. Under the India Maritime Vision, the country aims to increase its share of the world’s seafaring workforce from about 12 percent to 20 percent over the next four years.