The Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DGMA) has instructed ship owners, ship managers, and Recruitment and Placement Service Licence (RPSL) companies to refrain from assigning Indian seafarers to vessels traveling through the Strait of Hormuz due to heightened security concerns in the Gulf region. Recent attacks on merchant ships in the area, such as Mombasa B, Al Bahyah, GFS Galaxy, MT WEDYAN, and AL REKAYYAT, have escalated risks for seafarers and commercial vessels.
Vessel masters in the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, and nearby waters have been advised to maintain increased security awareness, monitor navigational warnings and security advisories, and enforce Ship Security Plans and other measures under the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code. Despite this, Indian seafarers are not to be deployed on ships voyaging through the Strait of Hormuz until further notice.
In case of emergencies, seafarers and vessels are urged to contact the DG Communication Centre (MMDAC) or the Indian Navy’s Information Fusion Centre-Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) promptly. The DGMA remains vigilant in monitoring the security situation in the Gulf region to ensure the safety, security, and well-being of Indian seafarers.
The advisory is issued amidst escalating tensions in the Middle East following US strikes on Iranian military installations, raising concerns about a broader regional conflict and potential disruptions to shipping through the Hormuz Strait. Iran, in response, has threatened to limit more regional energy exports, citing an ongoing existential conflict with the US.
