NEW DELHI, July 16 (Reuters) – India has instructed shipowners, ship managers, and recruitment agencies not to send Indian seafarers on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz due to recent fighting in the area.
India ranks as the third-largest supplier of seafarers globally, with over 300,000 sailors employed on maritime fleets around the world, according to official data.
The Directorate General of Shipping issued a directive late Wednesday stating, “No deployment of Indian seafarers on vessels undertaking voyages involving passage through the Strait of Hormuz until further orders.”
In the past three days, two Indian seafarers have been killed in attacks on ships in the region, reflecting escalating tensions in the Middle East, with previous incidents resulting in additional casualties, as reported by government data.
The shipping regulator noted that recent attacks on vessels have significantly increased the risks for seafarers and commercial ships operating in this conflict-affected region.
The order highlighted the need for enhanced precautionary measures to protect the interests of Indian seafarers working on ships in the Persian Gulf region due to the rising security threats.
It also urged ship captains to remain vigilant about the security conditions in the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, and surrounding waters, and to continuously monitor navigational warnings.
Furthermore, New Delhi expressed its concerns to Iran, summoning the deputy ambassador regarding one of the recent fatalities on Tuesday.
According to Manoj Yadav, general secretary of the Forward Seamen’s Union of India, over 15,000 Indian seafarers are currently stranded on the western side of the Strait of Hormuz.
Yadav remarked, “We can prevent new crews from entering those areas. But what about the thousands of seafarers still trapped in those dangerous waters, facing threats to their lives? What action is the government taking to extract them?”