New Delhi, July 28, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday said 166 Indian seafarers are currently present in the vicinity of the Strait of Hormuz amid heightened security concerns in the Gulf region.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said six Indian vessels are located west of the strategic maritime chokepoint, carrying 125 Indian seafarers. In addition, 41 Indian nationals are serving on foreign-flagged ships operating in the same region.
“We have six Indian vessels which are west of the Strait of Hormuz, so in the Persian Gulf, there are 125 seafarers who are onboard these Indian ships. In addition, there are 41 Indian seafarers who are onboard foreign ships which are there in that area,” Jaiswal said during a media briefing in New Delhi.
He added that the Ministry of Shipping was closely monitoring the movement and safety of Indian ships and seafarers, while Indian missions in the region remained in contact with the concerned authorities to provide assistance whenever required.
The MEA statement comes after a Mozambique-flagged LPG tanker carrying 28 Indian crew members was attacked in Iranian territorial waters on July 24. The Indian Embassy in Tehran confirmed that all Indian crew members onboard the vessel, identified as DISHA (IMO No. 8818219), were safe.
The embassy said it was coordinating with relevant authorities and continuing to monitor developments related to the incident.
Earlier, the Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DGMA) advised ship owners, ship managers and Recruitment and Placement Service Licence (RPSL) companies to avoid deploying Indian seafarers on vessels travelling through the Strait of Hormuz until further orders due to the prevailing security situation.
The maritime regulator said the advisory was issued to protect the safety and welfare of Indian seafarers amid continuing risks to commercial shipping in the conflict-affected Gulf region.
FOLLOW NOW
