Overview
- The Turkish-owned cargo ship MV Royad Mammadov was attacked in the Black Sea on Monday and the strike killed two foreign seafarers and injured several crew members.
- Romanian authorities rescued survivors and treated the injured, and three Indian crew members—Sahil Sandhu, Ashwini Kumar and Harman Singh—left Romania for India on Saturday after receiving consular help.
- The Embassy of India in Bucharest coordinated medical care, arranged essentials and Indian food, and met local police, the shipping company’s agent and treating doctors to facilitate the return.
- India publicly condemned the attack, urged dialogue and diplomacy to de-escalate tensions, and pointed to its role in a 25-nation Group of Friends on Safety and Security of Shipping and Seafarers.
- The incident adds to recent strikes on commercial vessels in the Black Sea, raises fresh concerns for international shipping routes, and could prompt tighter multilateral measures to protect seafarers.