India Closely Monitors 28 Merchant Ships, Ensures Safety of 10 Million Indians in West Asia
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The Indian government is closely monitoring 28 Indian-flagged merchant vessels in the Persian Gulf and taking steps to ensure the security of 10 million Indians living in West Asia.
Senior officials said that a total of 24 Indian-flagged vessels with 677 Indian seafarers are currently located to the west of the Strait of Hormuz, while four vessels with 101 Indian seafarers are to the east of the crucial waterway.
Indians constitute almost 12% of the global seafaring workforce, with a total of more than 320,000 active sailors. Attacks on merchant vessels during recent conflicts in West Asia have resulted in Indian casualties.
Authorities, ship managers, and recruitment agencies are coordinating with Indian embassies and local authorities to ensure safety and render medical assistance to Indian seafarers.
The Directorate General of Shipping has issued advisories on precautionary measures to safeguard Indian seafarers and Indian-flagged vessels.
Major ports have implemented measures such as the continuous monitoring of the movement of vessels in coordination with shipping lines and ship agents.
Steps are being taken to ensure the security of some 9,000 Indian nationals in Iran, with students and pilgrims being relocated to safer places.
Indian missions are coordinating with the governments of West Asian states to help Indian nationals stranded in the region because of the widespread closure of airspace.
