NEW DELHI: India has instructed shipowners, ship management companies and maritime recruitment agencies to stop assigning Indian seafarers to vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz until further notice, following a series of deadly attacks on commercial shipping in the Gulf.
The directive, issued by the Directorate General of Shipping late on Wednesday, comes after two Indian seafarers were killed in separate attacks on vessels operating in the region over the past three days, underscoring growing concerns over the safety of merchant crews amid renewed hostilities in the Middle East.
The regulator said the deteriorating security environment had significantly increased the risks faced by commercial ships and their crews navigating the conflict-affected waters.
India, the world’s third-largest supplier of seafarers, has more than 300,000 sailors serving on merchant vessels across international shipping fleets, making the safety of its maritime workforce a key national concern.
The order directs shipping companies not to deploy Indian nationals on ships scheduled to pass through the Strait of Hormuz until further instructions are issued by the authorities.
In addition to suspending deployments, the Directorate General of Shipping has instructed masters of vessels operating in the Arabian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding waters to maintain heightened vigilance, closely monitor the evolving security situation and comply with all navigational and security advisories issued by relevant authorities.
The regulator said the precautionary measures were necessary to safeguard Indian seafarers amid the rapidly changing security landscape in one of the world’s most strategically important maritime corridors.
Separately, New Delhi has lodged a strong diplomatic protest with Iran over one of the fatalities, summoning the country’s deputy ambassador to convey its concerns and seek an explanation.
According to Reuters, the latest measures reflect India’s growing alarm over the escalating instability in the Gulf, where attacks on commercial vessels have heightened fears of further disruption to international shipping and the safety of thousands of seafarers operating in the region.
