<p data-path-to-node="5">Escalating its maritime security oversight across high-risk Middle Eastern shipping lanes, the Government of India is closely monitoring the safety and location of <b data-path-to-node="5" data-index-in-node="183">166 Indian seafarers</b> serving aboard commercial vessels navigating the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.</p><p data-path-to-node="6">Working through the Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping) and Indian diplomatic missions in the region, authorities are maintaining round-the-clock coordination with ship management companies, vessel flag states, and maritime security centers. The enhanced surveillance aims to safeguard crew members, establish emergency communication channels, and ensure rapid contingency assistance amid heightened geopolitical volatility in the region.</p><h3 data-path-to-node="8"><b data-path-to-node="8" data-index-in-node="0">Real-Time Vessel Tracking, Diplomatic Support, and Maritime Risk Advisory</b></h3><p data-path-to-node="9">The monitoring strategy combines real-time vessel tracking with active diplomatic and advisory frameworks:</p><ul data-path-to-node="10"><li><p data-path-to-node="10,0,0"><b data-path-to-node="10,0,0" data-index-in-node="0">24/7 Monitoring &amp; Communication:</b> DG Shipping’s emergency control center is tracking the precise movements of vessels carrying Indian nationals through the Persian Gulf, maintaining direct communication channels with ship operators and master mariners.</p></li><li><p data-path-to-node="10,1,0"><b data-path-to-node="10,1,0" data-index-in-node="0">Diplomatic &amp; Inter-Agency Coordination:</b> Indian embassies across Persian Gulf littoral states are coordinating with local port control, naval authorities, and international maritime security task forces to facilitate assistance if transit risks intensify.</p></li><li><p data-path-to-node="10,2,0"><b data-path-to-node="10,2,0" data-index-in-node="0">Issuance of Safety Advisories:</b> Maritime authorities have issued updated guidelines to Indian seafarers and recruitment agencies (RPSL), advising strict adherence to international security protocols, war-risk transit procedures, and AIS (Automatic Identification System) operational norms.</p></li><li><p data-path-to-node="10,3,0"><b data-path-to-node="10,3,0" data-index-in-node="0">Protecting Seafarer Rights &amp; Welfare:</b> India continues to work with international maritime bodies like the IMO to safeguard the rights of commercial crews, emphasizing that seafarers must not become targets in regional conflicts.</p></li></ul>