India on Tuesday condemned attacks on two commercial vessels in the Black Sea and the Strait of Hormuz that killed two foreign seafarers and injured several others, including 11 Indians in the latest incident off the coast of Oman.

India said attacks on merchant shipping were undermining global commerce and the welfare of people worldwide, and called for an immediate cessation of attacks in the region.

11 Indians injured in Strait of Hormuz attack

In the latest incident, 11 Indian nationals were among 12 crew members injured after the Panama-flagged commercial vessel MT On Peace was struck by a projectile while transiting the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Oman.

The vessel was carrying 19 crew members, of whom 17 were Indian nationals. With the assistance of Omani authorities, all injured crew members were evacuated and are receiving medical treatment in Khasab, Oman, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

India thanked the Omani authorities for their “valuable support” and called for an immediate cessation of attacks in the region.

The MEA said the targeting of commercial shipping, seafarers and civilian infrastructure in the region must end and navigation and commerce through international waterways should be restored at the earliest.

Two foreign seafarers killed in Black Sea attack

The statement came hours after India condemned the attack on MV Royad Mammadov in the Black Sea, in which two foreign seafarers were killed and members of the crew, including Indian nationals, were injured.

The MEA said the three Indian nationals who were part of the crew were safe. The injured were rescued by Romanian authorities and were receiving medical attention. India thanked the Romanian authorities for their swift action.

India raises concern over safety of commercial shipping

The two incidents involved commercial vessels navigating two of the world’s strategically important waterways and have brought the safety of merchant crews and international shipping back into focus for India.

The MEA said India views attacks on commercial shipping and seafarers with grave concern. It said targeting traffic in international waterways was severely undermining global commerce and the welfare of people across the world.

India seeks greater international cooperation

The latest attacks come as New Delhi is seeking greater international cooperation to protect commercial shipping and seafarers from attacks in conflict zones.

In September, India and Liberia launched a 25-nation Group of Friends on Safety and Security of Shipping and Seafarers during the UN General Assembly. The initiative aims to ensure the safety and security of merchant crews and commercial shipping against targeted attacks.

The initiative was launched against the backdrop of growing threats to civilian shipping in conflict-affected regions and India's repeated concerns over the safety of Indian seafarers.

India engages Russia and Ukraine over Black Sea shipping

India has separately been engaging both Russia and Ukraine over the safety of civilian shipping in the Black Sea.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Monday that New Delhi was talking to both Moscow and Kyiv to seek an understanding on civilian shipping, grain and energy. He said India had strongly protested to both sides after attacks on civilian vessels in July killed and injured Indian sailors.

India's diplomatic efforts have also received acknowledgment from Kyiv. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha described India's proposal for a ceasefire arrangement as the “broadest” among four initiatives received by Ukraine from India, the US, Türkiye and Egypt.

According to Sybiha, India's proposal seeks to combine an energy ceasefire with a truce in the Black Sea.

Diplomatic focus expands from shipping to grain and energy

Jaishankar said India's engagement initially centred on civilian shipping but later expanded to grain and energy because disruptions in the Black Sea have wider consequences.

He said disruptions involving the Black Sea, grain, energy and fertiliser have a disproportionate impact on the Global South.

With Indian seafarers now injured in attacks involving commercial vessels in both the Strait of Hormuz and the Black Sea, New Delhi has increasingly linked maritime security with its wider diplomatic push for dialogue, de-escalation and respect for international waterways.