New Delhi, August 7: The Ministry of External Affairs has emphasized that the safety of Indian sailors and Indian-flagged vessels in the Gulf region is the government’s top priority. To ensure this, Indian missions are actively coordinating with local authorities and operating a 24-hour helpline.
During a weekly media briefing on Friday, spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that the safety of our ships and seafarers is paramount. All our missions in the Gulf region are in constant contact with the Ministry of Shipping, maritime authorities of those countries, and other relevant officials. This coordination ensures immediate assistance for our sailors or Indian-flagged vessels whenever needed.
Jaiswal mentioned that the missions have also established a 24/7 helpline for anyone in need of assistance. This helpline is available not only for sailors but also for other Indian nationals. These services have been consistently operational for several months and will continue in the future.
He added that the Ministry of Shipping, in coordination with local authorities in West Asia and the Gulf region, is advocating for safe and unobstructed navigation in international waterways and smooth trade operations. We urge all parties to avoid targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure, especially commercial vessels and their crew members.
On the same day, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal informed Parliament that 4,052 sailors have been repatriated from the Gulf region, and as of August 3, 62 vessels have successfully passed through the Strait of Hormuz. Among these, 23 were Indian-flagged and 39 were foreign-flagged vessels.
The minister noted that in light of the changing maritime security situation, the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) continuously updates its advisories to enhance the safety of Indian sailors amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Additionally, the government has implemented several measures to ensure the safety of Indian sailors in the Strait of Hormuz. These include establishing a dedicated 24/7 control room, maintaining a live database of vessels and crew, and issuing daily status updates on vessel movements, Indian sailors, incidents, and casualties.
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