Visakhapatnam seafarers hold silent march against deaths in war zones
Visakhapatnam, August 9, 2026: Around 40 merchant navy seafarers took part in a silent protest here on Sunday, demanding safety for civilian crew members who have increasingly become casualties in conflict zones across the Middle East.
The march, organised by the Merchant Navy Officers Welfare Association (MNOWA), began at the Kali Mata temple and concluded at the YMCA on Beach Road. Participants condemned the killings of seafarers in war-affected waters and expressed solidarity with the families of those who have lost their lives.
MNOWA president Kali Prasad, who led the protest, said merchant navy personnel are civilians who work away from their families and face risks such as rough weather and piracy while transporting cargo across the world. “We are not combatants. We should not become casualties of war,” he said.
The association demanded fair and timely compensation for the families of deceased seafarers from shipowners and agencies. It also urged shipowners and operators to conduct full risk assessments before deploying vessels and crew in high-risk areas. Seafarers were advised to join only reputed companies to ensure better safety standards.
Among those who participated were V.R. Sagi, Prasanna Kumar, Vasudev Rao, Mahapatra, K.K. Chand, Bagadi Lakshman Rao, Tiwari, Saroj Mishra, Pakki Prasad, Ramana Srinivas and Kuppam Prabhakar.
The protest comes amid a rising toll on Indian seafarers since hostilities involving Iran, Israel and the United States escalated on February 28, 2026. Indian mariners have repeatedly come under drone, missile and projectile attacks in the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf of Oman and the Red Sea.
Fatal incidents include the March 1 strike on the tanker MKD Vyom off Muscat, Oman, which killed one Indian crew member. On June 10, a U.S. military strike on the MT Settebello killed three Indian sailors, including Patnala Suresh, a 44-year-old chief engineer from Visakhapatnam. Iranian missile strikes on the tankers Al Bahyah and Mombasa on July 14 resulted in the death of at least one Indian seafarer.
Most recently, the Indian-flagged vessel MSV Faize Noore Oliya capsized and sank in the Red Sea off Yemen on August 4 after being struck by a projectile. Yemeni authorities attributed the attack to Houthi forces. All 14 crew members aboard, including 13 Indians, were rescued.
Seafarers and their associations have repeatedly called for international protection for civilian mariners, who remain essential to global trade even as conflict spreads to key shipping lanes. The MNOWA has urged the Indian government and shipping companies to prioritise the safety of crew and ensure that families of the deceased receive adequate support.
