India asks shipowners to avoid deploying seafarers through Strait of Hormuz after attacks

India's Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DGMA) has directed ship owners, ship managers and recruitment agencies to avoid deploying Indian seafarers on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz until further orders, citing the deteriorating security situation in the Gulf region.

In an advisory issued on Wednesday, the maritime regulator said the move follows a series of attacks on merchant vessels in the conflict-affected region and recent incidents that resulted in casualties among Indian seafarers.
The DGMA said the safety, security and welfare of Indian seafarers, along with the security of Indian ships, remain its top priority.


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The advisory noted that recent attacks involving merchant vessels, including Mombasa B, Al Bahyah, GFS Galaxy, MT WEDYAN and AL REKAYYAT, have significantly increased risks for commercial shipping and crew operating in the Persian Gulf and surrounding waters.

"In view of the heightened security situation in the Persian Gulf region, including incidents resulting in casualties among Indian seafarers and continuing attacks on merchant vessels during the ongoing conflict, the Directorate considers it necessary to adopt enhanced precautionary measures," it said.

The DGMA has instructed masters of vessels operating in the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and adjoining waters to maintain a heightened level of security vigilance. Ships have been asked to continuously monitor navigational warnings and security advisories issued by relevant authorities and implement all applicable security measures in line with the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code.

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The regulator has also advised seafarers and vessels requiring emergency assistance in the region to immediately contact the DGMA Communication Centre or the Indian Navy's Information Fusion Centre–Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR).

The advisory comes amid escalating tensions in the Gulf, where attacks on commercial vessels have heightened concerns over the safety of global shipping routes and seafarers operating in the region.