New Delhi, July 28: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has said that 166 Indian seafarers are currently in and around the Strait of Hormuz region, with the government closely tracking their safety amid heightened maritime tensions.
Addressing a regular media briefing in New Delhi, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that six Indian-flagged vessels are operating west of the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf, carrying a total of 125 Indian crew members. Additionally, 41 Indian nationals are serving aboard foreign-flagged ships in the same area.
Jaiswal said the Ministry of Shipping is working in coordination with Indian missions in the Gulf to monitor the situation and ensure the welfare of Indian seafarers. He added that embassies in the region remain prepared to extend assistance whenever required.
The update comes days after the Mozambique-flagged LPG tanker DISHA was attacked in Iranian territorial waters on July 24. The vessel had 28 Indian crew members on board. The Indian Embassy in Tehran confirmed that all Indian nationals aboard the tanker were safe and said it was maintaining close contact with the relevant authorities while continuing to monitor developments.
In response to the deteriorating security environment in the Gulf, the Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DGMA) has advised ship owners, ship managers and Recruitment and Placement Service Licence (RPSL) companies not to deploy Indian seafarers on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz until further notice.
The advisory, announced through the regulator’s official social media channels, is aimed at protecting Indian seafarers as attacks on commercial vessels continue to raise security concerns in the strategically important maritime corridor.
