India has issued a directive instructing shipowners, managers, and recruitment agencies to cease the deployment of Indian seafarers on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz due to escalating conflicts in the region.
The Directorate General of Shipping mandated that "No deployment of Indian seafarers on vessels undertaking voyages involving passage through the Strait of Hormuz until further orders." This decision comes in the wake of recent attacks that have claimed the lives of two Indian seafarers over the past three days, significantly increasing the perceived risks for maritime personnel and commercial shipping in the area.
India ranks as the third-largest global supplier of seafarers, with a workforce exceeding 300,000 individuals serving on international shipping fleets, according to official government data. The shipping regulator cited the "heightened security situation in the Persian Gulf region" as the impetus for implementing these enhanced precautionary measures to ensure the safety of Indian seafarers operating in these waters.
In addition to halting deployments, vessel masters have been directed to maintain heightened vigilance regarding the security environment in the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, and adjacent maritime areas. Continuous monitoring of navigational warnings has also been emphasized.
The Ministry of External Affairs has lodged a formal protest with Iran regarding the security situation, summoning the country's deputy ambassador following the death of an Indian seafarer earlier this week.
