Shipping Ministry 'closely monitoring' six Indian vessels, 166 seafarers to ensure their well-being near Hormuz: MEA

India's Ministry of Shipping is closely monitoring six Indian vessels and the welfare of 166 Indian seafarers operating in the Arabian Gulf and near the Strait of Hormuz. This action comes amid an escalation in attacks on commercial vessels during the ongoing conflict in the region, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced Tuesday.

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We have six Indian vessels west of the Strait of Hormuz, in the Arabian Gulf, and there are 125 seafarers on board these Indian ships. In addition, there are 41 Indian seafarers on board foreign ships in that area.

MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that six Indian vessels are currently located west of the Strait of Hormuz in the Arabian Gulf, carrying 125 Indian seafarers. An additional 41 Indian seafarers are on board foreign vessels in the same area. The Ministry of Shipping is coordinating with relevant authorities to ensure the safety and well-being of these seafarers, with Indian missions in the region offering any necessary assistance.

Responding to a query about Indian seafarers in the Black Sea region, where attacks have also occurred, Jaiswal noted India possesses one of the world's largest seafaring communities. He confirmed that India has condemned recent attacks in the Black Sea and reiterated the nation's position that commercial shipping, seafarers, civilians, and civilian infrastructure must not be targeted.

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The Ministry of Shipping is closely monitoring our ships as well as our seafarers to ensure their well-being and welfare. Obviously, our missions in the region are in touch with the Ministry of Shipping to see if there is any requirement to support them, and they are offering any assistance that might be required.

Earlier, the MEA had summoned Ukraine's Ambassador to India to convey New Delhi's serious concern over a recent attack on the commercial vessel MV OMORFI in the Black Sea, which resulted in the death of an Indian seafarer. The Indian Embassy in Ukraine also reported an earlier incident where the merchant vessel MV Ragnar, carrying four Indian nationals, was struck at the port of Odesa.

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We have been very clear in articulating to both our partners and friends and to others also that under no circumstances can commercial shipping or the seafarers or civilians or civilian infrastructure be attacked and it must be avoided, and we have condemned those attacks which have happened recently in the Black Sea region.