India has announced the creation of a digital tool to track seafarers in the Persian Gulf. This decision was made after a recent attack that increased the total number of Indian nationals killed to 13 since the conflict between US supporters of Israel and Iran began.
India's Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonawall, stated that this digital platform will allow monitoring the location, crew size, safe zones, and threats for any vessel passing through the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman, regardless of the ship's flag.
The system provides round-the-clock support, assigning a dedicated officer to accompany each affected seafarer. This officer will serve as a single point of contact for families, handling matters of medical care, repatriation, and compensation.
The program is named 'Seafarer-First' and has been characterized by the Government of New Delhi as an 'unprecedented state approach to protecting all Indian seafarers working in the region affected by the current conflict,' which impacts shipping in the Persian Gulf.
These measures followed attacks on the tankers 'MT Al Bahiyah' and 'MT Mombasa' in the Strait of Hormuz. These vessels were carrying a total of 30 Indian seafarers out of 46 crew members.
According to Sonawall, one Indian citizen died aboard the 'MT Al Bahiyah,' and another was injured. Meanwhile, nine people were injured on the 'MT Mombasa,' two of whom were in serious condition.
In addition to the 13 deceased Indian seafarers in the Strait of Hormuz since late February, three other seafarers have gone missing from the region.
In light of recent attacks on foreign-flagged commercial vessels in the West Asia region carrying Indian seafarers, the Minister of Shipping, Sarbananda Sonowal, has directed the maritime regulator DG Shipping to create a comprehensive operational dashboard to track every vessel, regardless of its flag.
This online tool is designed to monitor vessel movements in the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman. It will provide up-to-date information on the ship's location, owner, cargo, crew size, seafarer welfare status, threat assessment, planned route, next port of call, as well as the availability of food, fuel, medical supplies, and communication equipment.
According to an official statement, the instructions are clear: every Indian seafarer in this conflict zone must be accounted for. DG Shipping has been instructed to appoint a liaison officer who will monitor affected seafarers. The Ministry of Shipping clarified that each such officer will serve as a single point of contact for families, coordinating medical updates, processing travel documents, assisting families, repatriation, support through the Seafarers Welfare Fund, payment of dues, and other compensations.
Sonowal chaired a high-level inter-ministerial meeting attended by representatives of Indian missions in Oman and Iran to assess the evolving security situation in the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman. Risks to Indian seafarers were analyzed, and India's emergency response mechanisms were reviewed during the meeting. According to TOI, there are currently seven Indian-flagged vessels with 148 Indian seafarers in the western part of the Strait of Hormuz, and five other foreign fertilizer vessels are heading to India.
The Minister also ordered close cooperation with Indian missions in Iran, Oman, UAE, and other affected countries in the region, as well as with MEA, to obtain verified and timely information on navigational safety, advice from coastal states, route status, shelters, hospitals, medical evacuation, repatriation procedures, remains management, and investigation progress. The Ministry emphasized that any vessel movement through the affected region must only occur after a fresh threat assessment, the professional judgment of the vessel's captain, and close coordination with competent maritime authorities.
Following incidents involving attacks on two commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has ordered that the safety of every Indian seafarer be ensured, regardless of the vessel's flag.
The Minister strongly condemned the attacks on the vessels, calling them 'irresponsible, unjustified, and unnecessary.' He stated that any voyages through the strait will only take place after a fresh threat assessment is conducted. Sonowal chaired a meeting with representatives from the Ministries of Shipping and External Affairs, the Indian Navy, the Directorate General of Shipping Administration, and other key maritime departments to analyze the changing security situation in the Persian Gulf.
An order was given for continuous, detailed monitoring of every vessel and every Indian seafarer. Furthermore, special officers were appointed to liaise with each affected Indian seafarer, and 24/7 coordination was organized.
The meeting took place after the attacks on MT Al Bahiyah and MT Mombasa in the Strait of Hormuz. These two vessels were jointly carrying 30 Indian seafarers out of a total crew of 46. According to government statements, one Indian seafarer died, and another sustained injuries aboard MT Al Bahiyah. Nine Indian nationals were injured on MT Mombasa, including two who remain in critical condition.
Sonowal expressed strong indignation over the attacks on unarmed civilian merchant vessels, noting that this led to the death and injury of Indian seafarers, who are key workers in maintaining global supply chain operations. He demanded that officials create a comprehensive operational dashboard tracking every person on every vessel, regardless of its flag, operating in the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman.
This dashboard must provide up-to-date information on the vessel's location, owner, cargo, crew size, crew welfare, threat assessment, planned route, next port of call, as well as the availability of food, fuel, medical supplies, and communication equipment. The government also commits to appointing a dedicated liaison officer for every affected Indian seafarer. This officer will serve as a single point of contact for families, coordinating medical updates, travel documents, family assistance, repatriation, support from the Seafarers Welfare Fund, unpaid wages, contractual rights, and other compensation.
Additionally, the ministry will require shipowners, ship managers, and licensed manning and placement agencies (RPSL) that employ Indian seafarers in the region to immediately submit compliance reports and confirm that no Indian seafarer is forced to work without proper information, protection, and support.
