New Delhi, August 7, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
As many as 62 India-bound vessels have successfully sailed through the Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing security situation in West Asia, Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal informed Parliament on Friday.
In a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, Sonowal said that as of August 3, a total of 4,052 seafarers had been repatriated from the Gulf region, while 62 India-bound ships had safely transited the strategic waterway. Of these vessels, 23 were Indian-flagged and 39 were operating under foreign flags.
The minister said the maritime security situation was being closely monitored, and the Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DGMA) was regularly updating advisories to ensure the safety and security of Indian seafarers amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Following renewed attacks on merchant vessels, the Directorate General of Shipping has directed the implementation of full International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code measures. It has also advised against deploying Indian seafarers on voyages passing through the Gulf region.
The DGMA has issued additional advisories for Indian and foreign-flagged vessels carrying Indian crew members in sensitive areas, including the Black Sea, Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, Southern Red Sea and adjoining Yemen waters.
These advisories require ship operators and masters to maintain heightened vigilance, conduct voyage-specific security assessments, follow security guidelines and immediately report any incidents.
Sonowal said several steps had been taken since the beginning of the security situation in the Strait of Hormuz to protect Indian seafarers. These include setting up a dedicated 24×7 control room, maintaining a live database of vessels and crew members, and issuing a Situation Report (SITREP) every 24 hours to track vessel movements, incidents and casualties.
The DGMA has also developed the eNavik Portal as an integrated digital platform with dedicated modules for marine casualty reporting, crisis management and seafarer grievance redressal. The platform enables digital incident reporting, automatic routing of cases to relevant authorities and real-time monitoring of response measures.
The minister said maritime security monitoring was being carried out through the DG Communication Centre (DGCOMM) in coordination with the Indian Navy, flag states, coastal authorities, shipowners, ship managers, Recruitment and Placement Services Licence (RPSL) agencies and other stakeholders.
He added that the central maritime distress and coordination mechanism, including the DG Communication Centre (MMDAC) and the dedicated control room, was functioning round-the-clock. Vessels operating in the region were required to submit reports through the online Ship Reporting Form to maintain updated vessel and crew information.
Sonowal further said that inter-agency coordination was being maintained by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and DGMA with the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian Navy and Indian missions abroad.
International coordination for evacuation of stranded seafarers was also being undertaken through a joint mechanism involving the International Maritime Organization (IMO), UKMTO, MICA Centre and coastal states.
“Welfare and assistance is also being provided by close and continuing contact with the families of affected seafarers and compensation is provided in fatality cases. Immediate support includes release of Rs 10 lakh through the Seafarers Welfare Fund Society,” the minister said.
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