Indian Government Orders Real-Time Tracking of All Ships with Indian Crew in Conflict-Hit West Asia
NEW DELHI — In response to recent attacks on commercial vessels in the West Asia region, the Indian government has mandated real-time monitoring of all ships carrying Indian seafarers, regardless of their flag. Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Tuesday directed the Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping) to create a comprehensive vessel-by-vessel operational dashboard covering the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman.
The dashboard will provide live updates on vessel position, ownership, cargo, crew strength, crew welfare, threat assessment, intended voyage, next port of call, and availability of food, fuel, medicines, and communication facilities. This measure follows fresh strikes on two foreign-flagged commercial ships in the region that collectively carried 30 Indian seafarers.
“The instructions are clear that every Indian seafarer has to be accounted for in this conflict zone. DG Shipping has been directed to ensure a liaison officer is appointed to look after the affected seafarers,” an official said. The shipping ministry stated that each liaison officer will act as a single point of contact for families, coordinating medical updates, travel documentation, family assistance, repatriation, support from the Seafarers Welfare Fund, outstanding wages, contractual entitlements, and other compensation.
Sonowal chaired a high-level inter-ministerial review meeting with officials from various ministries and representatives of Indian missions in Oman and Iran to assess the evolving security environment across the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman. The meeting evaluated risks to Indian seafarers and reviewed India’s contingency and emergency response mechanisms.
According to sources, seven Indian-flagged ships are currently west of the Strait of Hormuz with 148 Indian seafarers, and five foreign-flagged vessels carrying fertiliser are bound for India. The minister also directed close coordination with Indian missions in Iran, Oman, the UAE, and other affected nations, along with the Ministry of External Affairs, to obtain verified real-time information on navigational safety, coastal-state advisories, route status, port-of-refuge arrangements, hospitals, medical evacuation, repatriation procedures, mortal remains management, and ongoing investigations.
“Every vessel movement through the affected region must be undertaken only after a fresh threat assessment, the professional judgement of the ship’s master, and close coordination with competent maritime authorities,” the ministry said.
