Overview
- Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal chaired a March 3 review, after which authorities escalated protections for Indian-flagged vessels and crews operating in the Persian Gulf region.
- The Directorate General of Shipping initiated real-time tracking with higher reporting frequency and mandated 24×7 monitoring through the MMDAC DGComm Centre.
- A dedicated Quick Response Team is now in place, with helplines activated to support seafarers and provide information to their families.
- DGS reported at least three Indian seafarers on foreign-flagged ships were killed and one injured in the region, issuing advisories for voyage-specific risk assessments.
- Coordination has been stepped up with the Indian Navy, the Ministry of External Affairs, IFC-IOR, MRCC and Indian missions, while companies and vessels were directed to heighten security, keep continuous communications, and report suspicious activity immediately.