Indian Seafarers’ Death Rumours on MT Liaki Freedom Debunked as Misinformation, Government and Union Issue Strong Clarifications

Forward Seamen's Union of India General Secretary Manoj Yadav on Saturday rejected the reports, describing them as completely false and warning of the growing threat posed by maritime misinformation. Speaking to ANI, he stated that the union immediately contacted the vessel after the reports surfaced and confirmed that no such incident had occurred. He further noted that the Ministry of External Affairs had also verified that the claims were baseless.

Yadav underlined the broader climate of fear and instability created by such false narratives, pointing out that a large number of Indian seafarers are currently operating in sensitive maritime regions. He stated that between 18,000 and 20,000 Indian sailors are presently stranded in the affected area, warning that misinformation is generating widespread anxiety not only among sailors but also among Indian families.

He further urged immediate government intervention, stressing that there is no dedicated round-the-clock verification or emergency contact system for the merchant shipping sector. He highlighted that while other sectors maintain emergency helplines, the maritime industry lacks a permanent mechanism for real-time communication and verification of incidents. He called for the establishment of a permanent coordination committee to verify and promptly counter false information, stating that he has already raised this demand with the Government of India on behalf of FSUI.

Yadav also referenced the absence of structured crisis response infrastructure in the sector, emphasizing the urgent need for official mechanisms to ensure accurate communication during emergencies and prevent the spread of unverified claims.

In an official clarification, the Ministry of External Affairs, India confirmed that it had directly spoken to the Master of the vessel MT Liaki Freedom, who verified that all crew members were safe and that no attack or casualties had taken place. The ministry categorically stated that earlier reports suggesting fatalities were false.

The vessel, identified as a Marshall Islands-flagged tankship according to vessel tracking data, had been the subject of misleading media and social media reports alleging an overnight attack off the coast of Oman in which Indian nationals were said to have been killed. These claims have now been officially refuted.

The Ministry also issued a warning through its Fact Check mechanism on social media platform X, urging the public to remain vigilant against unverified and baseless information circulating online.

The coordinated rebuttal from both the seafarers’ union and government authorities highlights the escalating challenge of misinformation in sensitive maritime corridors and underscores the urgent need for stronger verification systems to protect the safety and mental well-being of Indian seafarers operating in high-risk international waters.