India has ordered shipowners, ship managers and recruitment agencies to stop deploying Indian seafarers on vessels travelling through the Strait of Hormuz, as renewed fighting in the region sends security risks soaring. The order, issued on Wednesday by the Directorate General of Shipping, said: “No deployment of Indian seafarers on vessels undertaking voyages involving passage through the Strait of Hormuz until further orders.” India is the world’s third-largest supplier of seafarers, with more than 300,000 Indian sailors serving on commercial vessels across the global shipping industry, according to government data.
Two Indian seafarers have been killed in attacks on vessels in the region this week, while several others have died in earlier incidents as tensions continue to rise across the Middle East. The recent attacks have “significantly” increased the risks faced by seafarers and commercial vessels operating in the conflict-affected region, the shipping regulator said.
“In view of the heightened security situation in the Persian Gulf region, the Directorate considers it necessary to adopt enhanced precautionary measures to safeguard the interests of Indian seafarers serving on board ships operating in the region,” it said. The regulator also directed vessel masters to maintain heightened vigilance over security developments in the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding waters, while continuously monitoring navigational warnings.
India has also lodged a strong protest with Iran, summoning the country’s deputy ambassador following one of the deaths on Tuesday. More than 15,000 Indian seafarers are reportedly stranded west of the Strait of Hormuz, highlighting the growing human and commercial cost of the escalating crisis around one of the world’s most strategically important shipping chokepoints.