India and Liberia Launch Maritime Safety Group

India and Liberia launched the “Group of Friends on Safety & Security of Shipping & Seafarers” in New York on 25 September 2026. The initiative was announced during the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Week, and India and Liberia will serve as co-chairs of the group.

Maritime Safety and Shipping Security

Maritime safety covers the protection of ships, cargo, crew, and sea routes from armed attacks, piracy, accidents, and unlawful interference. Commercial shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf, the Red Sea, and the Black Sea have faced security threats in recent years.

Role of India and Liberia in Global Shipping

India is a major source country for seafarers, and Liberia hosts the world’s largest shipping registry by tonnage. A shipping registry is the national register under which merchant vessels are flagged and regulated for legal and technical compliance.

Framework and Objectives of the Group

The new coalition will function within the frameworks of the International Maritime Organization and the International Labour Organization. Its stated objectives include technical standards for vessels, compliance with maritime rules, environmental stewardship, protection of commercial sea lanes, and welfare of seafarers.

• The International Maritime Organization is the United Nations specialised agency for shipping safety and marine pollution prevention.
• The International Labour Organization sets international labour standards, including norms relevant to seafarers.
• The inaugural meeting in New York included representatives from 25 countries.
• Russia, Germany, and Japan were among the countries represented at the meeting.

Important Facts for Exams

• The United Nations General Assembly High-Level Week is held annually in New York in September.
• Merchant marines are civilian seafarers who operate commercial vessels.
• The Strait of Hormuz is a key maritime chokepoint linking the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier proposed a Seafarers Emergency Support Network at a BRICS Summit.

The Group of Friends on Safety & Security of Shipping & Seafarers is a multilateral initiative. It was launched on 25 September 2026 in New York.