Parliament Question: Indian Seafarers in Conflict Zones

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING & WATERWAYS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3247 ANSWERED ON 07.08.2026 INDIAN SEAFARERS IN CONFLICT ZONES 3247 SHRI V K SREEKANDAN:

Will the Minister of PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS be pleased to state: प(cid:517)न, पोत प(cid:303)रवहन और जलमाग(cid:330) मं(cid:361)ी

(a) whether it is true that the Directorate General of Shipping has advised maritime recruitment and placement agencies not to deploy Indian seafarers to conflict zones until further notice;

(b) whether it is also true that these directives were issued after three Indian seafarers were killed and many were injured or missing in a U.S. strike on a ship off the coast of Oman;

(c) whether it is also true that the Directorate General of Shipping is closely monitoring the evolving situation in coordination with all concerned in the light of continued attack on ships that carry Indian seafarers; and

(d) if so, the details thereof? ANSWER MINISTER OF PORTS, SHIPPING & WATERWAYS (SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)

(a) to (d) In view of the evolving maritime security situation, the Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DGMA), a subordinate body under this Ministry progressively updates its advisories in response to the evolving security situation across the region.

Advisories are precautionary in nature and are intended to enhance the safety and security of lndian seafarers. They were issued in response to the evolving security situation and not to any single incident.

Further, from the onset of the security situation in the Strait of Hormuz, several measures have been taken to safeguard lndian seafarers. These include the establishment of a dedicated 24x7 Control Room, maintenance of a live vessel-and- crew database, and issuance of a Situation Report (SITREP) every 24 hours (currently SITREP No. 165) to monitor the movement of vessels, lndian seafarers, incidents and casualties. DGMA has also developed an integrated digital platform with dedicated 24x7 Marine Casualty Reporting, Crisis Management and Seafarer Grievance Redressal modules to ensure prompt reporting and response. The evolving maritimesecurity situation is being continuously monitored through the DG Communication Centre (DGCOMM) in coordination with the Indian Navy, Flag States, coastal authorities, shipowners, ship managers, Recruitment and Placement Services Licence

(RPSL) agencies and other concerned stakeholders. The details are placed at Annexure.Annexure

(1) Round-the-clock monitoring, reporting and crisis-response backbone

(i) DG Communication Centre (MMDAC) – the central maritime distress and coordination node, manned 24x7, together with a dedicated 24-hour Control Room.

(ii) Daily ship reporting advisory – vessels in the region report through the online Ship Reporting Form, maintaining a live vessel-and-crew database.

(iii) Continuous real-time monitoring – through the DGComm Centre, with a Situation Report issued every 24 hours (currently SITREP No. 165) to track vessels, seafarers, incidents and casualties.

(iv) eNavik Portal – an integrated digital platform with dedicated 24x7 Marine Casualty Reporting, Crisis Management and Seafarer Grievance Redressal modules, providing digital incident reporting with automated routing to the concerned authorities and real-time tracking of response measures.

(2) Whole-of-government and international coordination

(i) Inter-agency coordination is maintained by DGMA/ Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways with the Ministry of External Affairs, the Indian Navy, the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, the Department of Fertilizers, the IFC-IOR and Indian Missions abroad.

(ii) International coordination – evacuation of stranded seafarers is pursued through a coordinated mechanism involving the IMO, the UKMTO, the MICA Centre and coastal States.

(3) Evacuation and repatriation As on 03 August 2026, 4052 seafarers have been repatriated from the Gulf region and 62 vessels have successfully transited Strait of Hormuz (23 Indian- flagged and 39 foreign-flagged) for India.

(4) RPSL / e-migration system Single point of control – every Indian seafarer is engaged through a licensed RPSL agency and cannot clear e-migration or sign on to a vessel without formal, verified approval.

(5) Welfare and Assistance i. Family support – close and continuing contact with the families of affected seafarers is maintained. ii. Compensation in fatality cases – immediate support including release of Rs. 10,00,000 through the Seafarers Welfare Fund Society.iii. 24x7 grievance redressal – multiple always-on channels for assistance domestic toll-free 1800-889-7768; international toll-free (USA) +1-888- 988-0256; WhatsApp +91 8655856830; email enavik.24x7@gov.in; and the e-Navik grievance portal.

(6) Advisories to Ensure the Safety and Security of Indian Seafarers: i. DGS Advisory (14.01.2026) – Advisory to Indian Seafarers and Shipping Stakeholders in view of MEA Advisory on Iran, advising shipping companies not to deploy Indian seafarers to Iran until further orders, requiring close monitoring of Indian crews in the region, and directing seafarers to follow advisories issued by the Embassy of India and the Ministry of External Affairs.

ii. DGS Circular 09 of 2026 (28.02.2026) – Urgent Advisory to Indian Seafarers and Shipping Stakeholders in view of Escalating Situation in Iran, requiring Indian seafarers in Iran to remain vigilant, register with the Embassy of India, coordinate for safe departure where feasible, and directing stakeholders to immediately provide details of Indian seafarers in affected areas.

iii. DGS Circular 10 of 2026 (06.03.2026) – Safety Advisory for Indian Seafarers and Shipping Stakeholders Operating in the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz and Adjacent Waters, advising continuous vigilance, compliance with ISPS Code security measures, establishment of 24x7 emergency contact mechanisms, liaison with Indian Missions, emergency preparedness, and psychological counselling support for seafarers and their families where necessary.

iv. DGS Circular 11 of 2026 (07.03.2026) – Social Media Advisory to Maritime Stakeholders and Seafarer Community, directing maritime stakeholders to refrain from circulating unverified information, rumors, fake videos or speculative reports and to rely only on authenticated information from official sources.

v. DGS Circular 21 of 2026 (07.04.2026) – Safety Advisory for Indian Seafarers Ashore in Iranian Ports and Onboard Vessels Operating in or Around Iranian Waters, advising seafarers in Iran to remain at designated locations, avoid unnecessary travel, maintain heightened vigilance, follow Embassy advisories and remain in contact with company representatives, while also providing 24×7 emergency assistance contact details.

vi. DGS Circular 31 of 2026 (13.06.2026) – Precautionary Measures for Indian Seafarers in view of the Heightened Security Situation in the Gulf Region, reiterating heightened security vigilance, directing shipping companies and RPSL companies to restrict deployment of Indian seafarers to conflict areas until further orders (except emergency crew changes with consent), monitoring and reporting requirements, and dissemination of verified security information.

vii. DGS Circular No. 36 of 2026 {15.07.2026) : In view of renewed attacks on merchant vessels, DGS Circular No. 36 of 2026 mandated the implementation of full International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code security measures and advised against the deployment of Indian seafarers on voyages transiting through the gulf region.

viii. DGMA Circular No.41 of 2026 (23.07.2026) – Advisory issued for Indian and foreign flagged vessels carrying Indian seafarers operating in the Black Sea,requiring enhanced caution, voyage specific security assessments, strict adherence to security advisories and immediate reporting of incidents.

ix. DGS Circular No.42 of 2026 (23.07.2026) - Advisory issued for vessels operating in the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, Southern Red and adjoining Yemen waters, directing shipowners and masters to exercise utmost caution, continuous monitor security, developments and implement additional risk mitigation measures.

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