India and Liberia jointly launched the Group of Friends on Safety and Security of Shipping and Seafarers (GoF on S4) during the 81st UN General Assembly session in New York. The two countries co-chair the 25-member group. Liberia runs the world's largest open ship registry, while India is the second-largest supplier of seafarers, with about 2.5 lakh active Indian seafarers. The group aims to protect seafarers, improve maritime security, coordinate responses to piracy and attacks on ships, and promote the safe evacuation, medical care and repatriation of seafarers stuck in conflict zones. Over 80% of global trade by volume moves by sea.