<h4 data-path-to-node="3"><b data-path-to-node="3" data-index-in-node="0">NEW DELHI — Direct State Action Follows Persian Gulf Attacks</b></h4><p data-path-to-node="4">In a major regulatory intervention to protect maritime personnel amid escalating geopolitical volatility in West Asia, India’s Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DGMA) has issued an urgent advisory instructing ship owners, vessel managers, and Recruitment and Placement Service Licence (RPSL) agencies to halt the deployment of Indian seafarers on ships scheduled to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.</p><p data-path-to-node="5">The circular, published under the official directive on precautionary safety measures, emphasizes that the safety, security, and welfare of Indian mariners remain central to the state's statutory mandate.</p><h4 data-path-to-node="6"><b data-path-to-node="6" data-index-in-node="0">Heightened Security Volatility and Crew Safety Protocols</b></h4><p data-path-to-node="7">The government advisory follows a series of recent missile and drone strikes on commercial vessels navigating West Asian transit lanes, including attacks on merchant ships such as <i data-path-to-node="7" data-index-in-node="180">Mombasa B</i>, <i data-path-to-node="7" data-index-in-node="191">Al Bahyah</i>, <i data-path-to-node="7" data-index-in-node="202">GFS Galaxy</i>, <i data-path-to-node="7" data-index-in-node="214">MT Wedyan</i>, and <i data-path-to-node="7" data-index-in-node="229">Al Rekayyat</i>. Incidents in the region resulted in casualties among Indian crew members—including a fatality and critical injuries when a vessel's engine room was hit—prompting New Delhi to enforce strict, proactive safeguards.</p><p data-path-to-node="8">Under the newly issued directives, masters of ships operating in the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, and adjacent waters have been ordered to maintain maximum security vigilance. Ship operators are required to:</p><ul data-path-to-node="9"><li><p data-path-to-node="9,0,0">Continuously monitor navigational warnings and emergency security bulletins issued by competent maritime authorities.</p></li><li><p data-path-to-node="9,1,0">Implement all applicable Ship Security Plans (SSP) and Company Security Procedures in strict accordance with the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code.</p></li><li><p data-path-to-node="9,2,0">Restrict new deployments of Indian seafarers to conflict-prone corridors until further notice, except in cases of emergency crew changes.</p></li></ul><h4 data-path-to-node="10"><b data-path-to-node="10" data-index-in-node="0">24x7 Command Tracking and Emergency Monitoring</b></h4><p data-path-to-node="11">To operationalize real-time assistance, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal confirmed that dedicated 24x7 communication and tracking frameworks have been activated. Vessels and mariners in need of urgent coordination are instructed to maintain direct liaison with the DG Communication Centre (MMDAC) and the Indian Navy’s Information Fusion Centre–Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR).</p><p data-path-to-node="12">Indian diplomatic missions across the Gulf region have established dedicated support desks to facilitate safe crew evacuations and emergency logistics as the state monitors maritime security conditions across the Indian Ocean and West Asian trade corridors.</p>