166 Indian seafarers near Strait of Hormuz: MEA
New Delhi, July 28
The Ministry of External Affairs on Tuesday confirmed that there are currently six Indian ships with 125 seafarers west of the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's busiest maritime chokepoints for oil shipments. With India being the second-largest seafaring community in the world, many Indian seafarers are also serving on foreign vessels in the region.
"We have six Indian vessels which are west of the Strait of Hormuz, so in the Persian Gulf, there are 125 seafarers who are onboard these Indian ships. In addition, there are 41 Indian seafarers who are onboard foreign ships which are there in that area," said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal while addressing a bi-weekly media briefing in New Delhi.
"Ministry of Shipping is also closely monitoring our ships and our seafarers so that we can ensure their well-being and welfare. Our missions in the region are in touch with the Ministry of Shipping to see if there is any requirement to support them and to offer any assistance that might be required," he added.
A Mozambique-flagged LPG tanker with 28 Indian crew members on board came under attack in Iranian territorial waters July 24, the Indian Embassy in Iran stated.
"The Embassy of India in Tehran is aware that the Mozambique-flagged LPG tanker DISHA (IMO No. 8818219) came under attack in Iranian territorial waters earlier today. The vessel has 28 Indian crew members on board. The Embassy has been in close contact with the relevant authorities and has confirmed that all Indian crew members are safe," a statement issued by the Embassy noted.
It said that the Indian mission continued to monitor the situation closely and remains in touch with the concerned authorities.
Earlier, the Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DGMA) directed ship owners, ship managers and Recruitment and Placement Service Licence (RPSL) companies to avoid deploying Indian seafarers on vessels undertaking voyages through the Strait of Hormuz until further orders, citing the heightened security situation in the Gulf region.
Taking to the social media platform X, the maritime regulator said the move was aimed at safeguarding the safety, security and welfare of Indian seafarers amid continuing attacks on merchant vessels operating in the conflict-affected region.
— IANS
Reader Comments
This is worrying. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical area, and with tensions in the Gulf, our government must ensure every Indian sailor is accounted for. Hope the 28 crew on the Disha are truly safe now.
Good decision by DGMA to ban voyages through Hormuz temporarily. But we need a long-term plan—maybe diplomatic talks with Iran and other Gulf nations to ensure safe passage for Indian ships.
As someone from a coastal town, I know how many families depend on seafaring jobs. The government should also offer financial support to families if seafarers are stranded or delayed due to this crisis.
Proud of our MEA for staying on top of this. But let's not forget—India is the second-largest seafarer provider in the world. Our sailors are risking their lives every day. Need better insurance and evacuation plans.
Honestly, I'm relieved the crew of the Disha is safe. But why was a Mozambique-flagged vessel carrying Indian crew in such a volatile area? Shipping companies need to be more responsible.
As an American, I admire India's swift response to this crisis. The Strait of Hormuz is a global chokepoint, and international cooperation is key.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.