Vessel Attacks In Hormuz: India on Friday issued a fresh maritime security advisory directing ships and crews to conduct comprehensive security drills, test emergency alert systems and maintain enhanced
vigilance amid rising attacks in the Strait of Hormuz, the Persian Gulf and adjacent waters.
The advisory, issued by the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS), came after a series of attacks on commercial vessels carrying Indian crew members heightened concerns over the safety of nearly 18,000 Indian seafarers operating across the Gulf region.
In its advisory, the DGS has urged ship owners, operators and masters to conduct comprehensive security exercises covering threats such as drones, missiles, loitering munitions and unmanned surface vessels. Vessels have also been directed to test their Ship Security Alert Systems (SSAS), maintain enhanced security watches and strictly follow reporting and communication protocols.
The DGS further asked crews to remain vigilant at all times and immediately report any suspicious activity, security threat or maritime incident to Indian authorities, including the DGComm Centre and the Information Fusion Centre–Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR).
The advisory came after three incidents involving merchant vessels carrying Indian sailors, including the attack on MT Settebello near the Strait of Hormuz in which three Indian seafarers were killed. The deceased were identified as Chief Engineer Patnala Suresh, Deck Cadet Aditya Sharma and Fitter Shivanand Chaurashiya.
New Delhi strongly condemned the incident, summoning US Chargé d’Affaires Jason Meeks and lodging a formal demarche. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) described the continuing attacks on shipping in the region as “deeply worrisome” and called for immediate de-escalation of tensions.
Another incident involved MT Jalveer, a Guinea-Bissau-flagged tanker carrying 20 Indian crew members, which was targeted during a US military operation. All crew members were reported safe.
As per estimates, 622 Indian seafarers aboard 13 India-flagged vessels are currently operating in waters around the Strait of Hormuz, while nearly 18,000 Indians are employed on foreign-flagged merchant ships across the wider Gulf region.
The Ministry of External Affairs has condemned the attacks on commercial vessels and stressed that the safety of civilian seafarers must remain a priority regardless of broader geopolitical tensions. India has also lodged a formal diplomatic protest with the United States over the incidents.
With maritime security conditions deteriorating in one of the world’s busiest shipping corridors, the government has directed shipping companies and crews to remain on high alert and coordinate closely with Indian maritime authorities to safeguard lives and vessels operating in the region.
