Indian Union Alleges Falsified Ship Documents Endangering Seafarers

The Forward Seamen's Union of India (FSUI) sent letters to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) alleging that five vessels had used fraudulent registration and insurance documents to continue operating, putting hundreds of seafarers at risk, particularly in war zones. The union sent two letters to the UN body on October 16 and 21, with the latest one, signed by General Secretary Manoj Yadav, addressed to IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez.

One of the cases cited is the Palau-flagged tanker Settebello, 47,200 dwt, built in 1997, which was struck by a US missile in June, killing three Indian seafarers. According to the union, the protection and indemnity (P&I) insurance certificate used to register the vessel under the Palau flag was fraudulent and was issued in the name of The American Club. The families of the deceased crew members are still seeking compensation from the shipowner.

The FSUI also cited three sanctioned tankers linked to Dubai-based shipowner Jugwinder Singh Brar: the Al Jafzia, 45,000 dwt, built in 1999; the Asphalt Star, 16,800 dwt, built in 2007; and the Stellar Ruby, 6,200 dwt, built in 2010. The vessels have been detained in Mumbai since February as part of an alleged oil smuggling scheme involving ship-to-ship transfers. A police report indicated that the Stellar Ruby's P&I certificate was forged and that the vessel had used false documentation to discharge bitumen at a port in eastern India, while the Al Jafzia allegedly used false papers to enter a ship recycling yard in Bhavnagar. Brar denied the allegations, calling them 'pure bullshit' and stating that nothing illegal had been proven.

The fifth case involves the US-sanctioned tanker Celestial Sea, which claimed an Aruban flag, aboard which an Indian seafarer died due to lack of medical attention while the vessel was sailing near the Strait of Hormuz. The union identified the victim as Second Officer Nishant Urithan and stated that Aruba had never issued a valid registration for the vessel.

The IMO responded on October 23, reaffirming its commitment to the safety and welfare of seafarers and pointing to its ongoing work on ship registration guidelines aimed at improving controls and preventing fraudulent registrations, although it did not announce specific measures against the named vessels, according to the union. In this context, it was noted that in April 2026 the IMO's Legal Committee had approved new guidelines on ship registration and that, according to the organization, 529 vessels had fraudulently flown national flags over the previous year, affecting nearly 40 member states.