Fake ship registries kill seafarers: India’s union demands IMO crackdown
Three Indian crew killed after US missile strike on tanker with forged insurance papers, union says
The Forward Seamen’s Union of India (FSUI) has called on the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to tackle the growing problem of fake ship registrations and insurance documents, which it says have left seafarers vulnerable and families of deceased crew members without compensation.
The FSUI sent two letters to the IMO on October 16 and 21, outlining cases where forged paperwork had put crews at risk. The most serious incident involved the Palau-flagged tanker MT Settebello (IMO No. 9162916), which was struck by Hellfire missiles fired from a US aircraft on June 9 in the Strait of Hormuz. The vessel was reportedly transporting Iranian oil in breach of a US Navy blockade.
Three Indian seafarers died in the attack. The union claims the tanker’s protection and indemnity (P&I) insurance certificate, issued under the name of The American Club, was fraudulent. As a result, the families of the deceased have yet to receive compensation, according to the FSUI.
Fraudulent documents linked to seafarer deaths: Fake
The union also raised concerns about the lack of medical assistance for injured crew members and the difficulties families face in repatriating the remains of seafarers who die at sea, particularly in conflict zones.
The FSUI’s letters highlighted five vessels connected to fraudulent practices. Among them were three tankers, Al Jafzia, Asphalt Star, and Stellar Ruby, seized in February as part of an alleged oil-smuggling operation involving ship-to-ship transfers. The vessels were linked to Dubai-based shipowner Jugwinder Singh Brar, who denied any wrongdoing, calling the allegations about fake documents “pure bullsh*t.”
Sanctioned vessels and ongoing risks
A police investigation found that Stellar Ruby had used a counterfeit P&I insurance certificate and had unloaded bitumen at an Indian port. Meanwhile, Al Jafzia allegedly used forged documents to enter a ship-recycling facility in Bhavnagar, Gujarat. The FSUI also reported that at least three vessels had been detained in Mumbai since February 2024 due to fake registration certificates.
Another case involved the Aruba-flagged tanker Celestial Sea, where an Indian seafarer died while crossing the Strait of Hormuz. The FSUI attributed the death to inadequate medical care on board, though further details were not provided.
The IMO responded to the FSUI on October 23, reiterating its commitment to seafarer safety and welfare. The agency referenced its ongoing work on ship-registration guidelines to strengthen verification processes and prevent fraud. However, it did not announce any specific measures against the vessels named in the union’s complaints.
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