India monitoring Strait of Hormuz following recent ship attacks

New Delhi: India is closely monitoring the maritime situation in West Asia following fresh tensions in the region. Officials said Indian-flagged or India-linked vessels were not among the three commercial ships recently attacked while crossing the Strait of Hormuz.

"Vessel movement through the Strait of Hormuz has once again been restricted," a senior official told ET, adding that a decision on reissuing advisories cautioning seafarers and discouraging chartering to West Asia would be taken shortly.

"Situation is being closely monitored," the official added.



A vessel owned by Shipping Corporation of India is among those that halted their voyage into the Persian Gulf while crossing the Strait of Hormuz after the latest attacks.

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the "Iran ceasefire is over", raising fears of a prolonged conflict. The attacks on three oil tankers, allegedly by Iran-linked fighters, have further heightened tensions in the region.

The ceasefire between the US and Iran lasted just over a fortnight. Trump, however, said negotiations between the two countries would continue.

A second official said the 24x7 grievance redressal mechanism operated by the Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping) continues to function. The maritime regulator had issued an advisory on June 13 outlining precautionary measures for Indian seafarers after the security situation in West Asia deteriorated.

Seafarer recruitment agencies were also advised to restrict deployment of Indian seafarers to conflict zones. According to official estimates, around 18,000 Indian maritime workers were in West Asia last month.

DG Shipping advisories followed attacks by the US Navy on unarmed vessels that resulted in the deaths of three Indian seafarers.