New Delhi, July 16 (Reuters) – India has instructed shipowners, vessel managers and recruitment agencies to refrain from sending Indian seafarers on ships that will transit the Strait of Hormuz while hostilities persist in the area.
India, the world’s third‑largest provider of maritime personnel, employs over 300,000 sailors in global shipping fleets, according to official figures.
“We prohibit the deployment of Indian seafarers on any vessel that will pass through the Strait of Hormuz, effective immediately, until further notice,” the Directorate General of Shipping said in a late‑Wednesday directive.
Two Indian seafarers have been killed in recent attacks on vessels in the region over the past three days, reflecting escalating tensions in the Middle East.
The regulator noted that recent attacks have markedly heightened the risks for seafarers and commercial vessels operating in the conflict‑affected zone.
“Given the heightened security situation in the Persian Gulf and surrounding waters, the Directorate deems it essential to implement enhanced precautionary measures to protect Indian seafarers serving on vessels operating in the region,” the order stated.
The directive also instructed vessel masters to maintain heightened vigilance regarding security conditions in the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and adjacent waters, and to continuously monitor navigational warnings.
New Delhi lodged a strong protest with Iran, summoning its deputy ambassador in response to one of the deaths on Tuesday.
Reporting by Nidhi Verma; Writing by Hritam Mukherjee; Editing by Edwina Gibbs
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