India's maritime regulator has advised ship owners, ship managers and Recruitment and Placement Service Licence (RPSL) companies to refrain from deploying Indian seafarers on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz until further notice, amid escalating security concerns in the Gulf.
According to news agency IANS, the Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DGMA) issued the advisory after a sharp increase in attacks on commercial vessels operating in and around the strategically important waterway, raising concerns about the safety of Indian crew members serving on international ships.
In a post on X, the DGMA said the measure was taken to safeguard the safety, security and welfare of Indian seafarers as hostilities in the region continue to intensify.
The regulator said several merchant vessels—including Mombasa B, Al Bahyah, GFS Galaxy, MT WEDYAN and AL REKAYYAT—have recently been attacked, underlining the growing threat faced by commercial shipping and crews navigating the area.
Alongside the restriction on new deployments, the DGMA directed masters of vessels operating in the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and adjoining waters to maintain a heightened state of vigilance.
They have been instructed to closely follow navigational and security advisories while ensuring full compliance with Ship Security Plans and the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code.
The advisory further stated that seafarers and vessels requiring immediate assistance should promptly contact the DG Communication Centre (MMDAC) or the Indian Navy's Information Fusion Centre for the Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR).
The DGMA said it is closely monitoring developments in the Gulf and remains committed to protecting the safety and welfare of Indian seafarers.
The advisory comes against the backdrop of mounting tensions across the Middle East after fresh US strikes on Iranian military installations heightened fears of a wider regional conflict and the possibility of further disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's busiest maritime trade corridors.
According to reports, the United States struck Iran's coastal defence and missile facilities on Wednesday after reinstating a naval blockade on Iranian ports. Tehran responded by warning that it could tighten restrictions on regional energy exports, saying it was engaged in what it described as an existential war with the United States.
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