The government has revealed in Parliament the scale of India’s maritime response during the recent Gulf crisis, underscoring how New Delhi managed to keep one of the country’s most critical trade arteries
functioning even as tensions threatened shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Replying to a question in Parliament, the government said 60 merchant vessels carrying cargo for India safely transited the Strait of Hormuz despite the heightened security situation. It also disclosed that 3,972 Indian seafarers were repatriated from the Gulf region, while a round-the-clock crisis management system handled tens of thousands of distress calls and emails.
The figures offer the first comprehensive official snapshot of India’s response to a crisis that had raised fears of disruptions to global energy supplies and trade.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most strategically important maritime chokepoints. Nearly a fifth of global oil trade passes through the narrow waterway linking the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea.
For India, the stakes are particularly high.
India imports nearly 90% of its crude oil requirements, with a substantial share coming from Gulf producers such as Iraq, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Kuwait. Any prolonged disruption in the Strait can quickly translate into higher freight costs, rising insurance premiums, and upward pressure on domestic fuel prices.
Against that backdrop, the government’s disclosure that 60 India-bound vessels completed their passage safely suggests that the country’s supply chain remained largely intact despite fears of escalation.
The parliamentary reply also highlights the human dimension of the crisis.
The government said 3,972 Indian seafarers were brought back from the Gulf region, reflecting concerns over the safety of thousands of Indians employed on commercial ships operating in one of the world’s busiest maritime corridors.
Officials said close contact was maintained with their families, while dedicated welfare counsellors were made available wherever required.
India is among the world’s largest suppliers of merchant navy personnel, with Indian seafarers serving on ships across international fleets. During periods of conflict, they often find themselves operating in high-risk waters even when they are not directly linked to military operations.
The government also detailed the scale of its emergency response.
A 24-hour Control Room and the Directorate General of Shipping Communication Centre (MMDAC) functioned round the clock throughout the crisis.
Under the emergency protocol, ships were requiredto establish contact with the nearest Indian Navy or coalition warship over VHF Channel 16 and immediately inform the DG Communication Centre, the Information Fusion Centre–Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR), and the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).
The numbers indicate how heavily the system was used.
Since its activation, the control room has handled 15,771 telephone calls and 36,499 emails from seafarers, their families, and other maritime stakeholders, reflecting the anxiety generated by the regional conflict and the volume of coordination required.
