Another Indian seafarer killed in Black Sea strike

New Delhi (TIP): An Indian seafarer was killed in a drone strike on a ship in the Black Sea last week, officials said on Friday, July 24, even as an LPG carrier Disha came under missile attack near Iran, leaving the vessel temporarily without manoeuvrability.
MV Omorfi was attacked while transiting the Black Sea, reportedly in Russian territorial waters, on July 18, the external affairs ministry said in a statement. Chief Officer Sagar Gupta, one of three Indian nationals among the 10 crew members, was killed in the attack, while the two other Indian crew members are safe. India on Friday condemned the attack on the Marshall Islands-flagged Omorfi and reiterated its call for upholding international obligations to ensure the safety and security of maritime navigation and the uninterrupted flow of global commerce. The incident occurred a day before a Russian attack that targeted the Guinea Bissau-flagged MV Golden Leo in the Black Sea and killed 10 people, including four Indian seafarers. The external ministry’s statement did not specify who attacked the Omorfi, though the Forward Seamen’s Union of India said on social media that the vessel was targeted by an Ukrainian drone. “India condemns such attacks targeting commercial shipping and placing the lives of innocent crew members at risk. It is a matter of serious concern that the freedom of navigation and international commerce is facing increasing threats,” the statement said.