New Delhi: India has issued a fresh maritime security advisory for nearly 18,000 Indian seafarers operating in and around the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman following a series of attacks on merchant vessels that have raised concerns over safety amid the ongoing Middle East conflict.
In its advisory, the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) directed ships and crews operating in Iranian waters, the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf to maintain heightened vigilance in view of escalating threats.
The advisory comes after three recent attacks on commercial vessels carrying Indian crew members, including a deadly incident off the coast of Oman in which three sailors were killed. The sailors were reported missing after the attack on the tanker, which the United States said was carrying Iranian oil and had failed to comply with instructions issued by American forces.
According to official estimates, 622 Indian seafarers aboard 13 India-flagged vessels are currently operating in waters to the west and east of the Strait of Hormuz. Nearly 18,000 Indian nationals are employed on hundreds of foreign-flagged merchant ships across the wider Gulf region.
Under the latest advisory, ship operators, owners and masters have been instructed to conduct comprehensive security drills, test Ship Security Alert Systems (SSAS), maintain enhanced watches, closely monitor navigational warnings and strictly follow reporting and communication protocols.
The advisory also calls for continuous vigilance against evolving threats, including drones, missiles, loitering munitions and unmanned surface vessels. The DGS has directed vessels and crews to immediately report suspicious activity, security threats or maritime incidents to designated Indian authorities, including the DGComm Centre and the Information Fusion Centre–Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR).
India has the world’s second-largest seafaring workforce, with around 3.2 lakh Indian seafarers serving on vessels globally.
Meanwhile, the government has lodged a strong protest with the United States over incidents involving merchant vessels and the deaths of Indian crew members while increasing coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs, the Indian Navy, foreign governments and maritime agencies.
