New Delhi, March 19: The government announced on Wednesday that all Indian sailors in the Middle East are completely safe. No incidents involving Indian-flagged vessels have been reported in the last 24 hours.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Shipping, Ports, and Waterways, there are currently 22 Indian ships and 611 Indian sailors operating in the western Persian Gulf region. The Directorate General of Shipping is closely monitoring the situation in collaboration with ship owners, RPSL agencies, and Indian missions.
The LPG tankers ‘Shivalik’ and ‘Nanda Devi,’ which have returned from the Middle East, are currently unloading their cargo as per the schedules set by oil companies.
The DG Shipping control room operates around the clock. So far, it has received 3,305 calls and 6,324 emails, including 125 calls and 449 emails in the last 24 hours. The government has ensured the safe return of over 472 Indian sailors, including 25 in the past day.
India’s maritime operations are functioning normally, with no congestion or disruptions reported at any ports. Marine boards in states like Gujarat and Maharashtra have also confirmed this.
The movement of ships and cargo operations at ports is being closely monitored. Additional storage arrangements have been made, including approximately 2,260 square meters of extra space created at the Visakhapatnam Port Authority. Meanwhile, the situation at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) is stable, with the number of stranded containers reduced from 1,000 to about 770.
The Ministry of Shipping, Ports, and Waterways is continuously monitoring shipping movements, port operations, sailor safety, and the continuity of maritime trade in light of the situation in West Asia.
Meanwhile, air services between India and the Middle East are gradually returning to normal. On March 17, around 70 flights operated in the United Arab Emirates, with expectations of about 75 flights today. Since March 5, more than 50 flights have been operating daily, improving connectivity.
Additionally, flights from Saudi Arabia and Oman to India are ongoing. Qatar’s airspace is partially open, with five flights operating on Tuesday and services starting for nine cities in India from Wednesday.
However, Kuwait’s airspace has been closed since February 28. Special charter flights from Al Qaisumah Airport in Saudi Arabia by Jazira Airways are expected to operate soon.
Arpit Soni has had a passion for journalism since the beginning. Now he has turned this hobby into his profession. Arpit, who is a resident of Udaipur, enjoys editing and writing news related to journalism. He has worked as a Senior Content Producer in several important roles at Bhaskar, Patrika, Pratahkal, Punjab Kesari, and Times. Arpit completed his schooling in Udaipur and Jaipur. He has been working in the media industry for more than 10 years, and his journey is still continuing. ✍️📚
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