India, March 6 -- With three Indians feared dead due to attacks on ships in the US-Iran war, unions of seafarers and others in the shipping industry have asked the government to protect and evacuate the 23,000 seamen in the war zone. The unions met the director-general of shipping, Shyam Jagannathan, in Mumbai on Thursday.

The Union shipping ministry confirmed nine attacks on Indian ships or ships with Indian crew on board since the crisis erupted last week. The latest attack was on March 5, when the Sonangol Namibe (Flag - Bahamas) came under fire.

A report prepared by the directorate-general of shipping said the Sonangol Namibe had ten Indian seafarers on board and was awaiting operations at Khor Al Zubair in Iraq. The report said the...