Six India-flagged commercial vessels and six foreign-flagged vessels of Indian interest are currently in the Persian Gulf area, west of the Strait of Hormuz, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Tuesday.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said around 163 Indian seafarers are currently onboard these 12 vessels.
“ We have at this point in time, six India-flagged ships, commercial vessels in the Persian Gulf, west of (the Strait of) Hormuz. We also have six foreign-flagged vessels, which are carrying cargo to India,” Jaiswal said during his bi-weekly media briefing.
“So, six India-flagged vessels and six foreign-flagged vessels which are of Indian interest. So 12 ships are there. On these ships, we have around 163 Indian seafarers who are on board,” he added.
The MEA spokesperson said more than 4,500 Indian seafarers are also onboard other commercial vessels operating in the area.
The Ministry of Shipping is monitoring the movement of these vessels and the well-being of Indian seafarers, with Indian missions and other stakeholders extending assistance as required.
“On India’s side, we remain committed to the safety and well-being of the Indian seafaring community abroad,” the MEA said.
Strait of Hormuz and shipping security
The Strait of Hormuz is a strategically important maritime passage connecting the Persian Gulf with the Arabian Sea and is a major international shipping route, particularly for energy supplies.
Several commercial vessels carrying Indian and other nationalities have come under attack in the region in recent months. India has repeatedly stated that attacks on commercial shipping are unacceptable.
In July, India strongly condemned attacks on two merchant vessels, MT Al Bahiyah and MT Mombasa, while they were transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The incidents resulted in the death of one Indian national and injuries to 10 others.
India had expressed deep concern over the attacks and condemned violence targeting seafarers and disruption of safe navigation through international waterways.
India calls for safe navigation
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, while addressing the inaugural meeting of the Group of Friends on Safety & Security of Shipping & Seafarers (GoF on S4) on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on September 25, said attacks on civilian shipping had become a growing concern across several maritime regions.
He cited incidents involving commercial vessels in the Black Sea, Red Sea and Gulf region, including attacks in which Indian seafarers were killed or went missing.
Two days before the statement, an Antigua and Barbuda-flagged bulk carrier MV Cape Dao was attacked in the Gulf of Oman, resulting in the death of an Indian sailor, according to Jaishankar.
He also referred to the earlier incident involving the Panama-flagged oil tanker El Gaia in the Strait of Hormuz, after which an Indian crew member went missing.
Jaishankar said repeated attacks on commercial shipping and mariners in the Gulf, Red Sea and surrounding areas were a growing concern.
The MEA had also condemned the September 23 attack on MV Cape Dao, describing continuing attacks on commercial shipping in the region as “deeply worrisome”.
India has called for dialogue and diplomacy to de-escalate tensions and enable an early return of peace to the region.
The MEA has also called for an end to attacks targeting commercial shipping, seafarers and civilian infrastructure, and for the restoration of free and unimpeded navigation and commerce through international waterways in the region.
-PTI
