New Delhi: More than 4,500 Indian seafarers working on commercial vessels in the Persian Gulf are being monitored by Indian authorities as attacks on merchant ships continue to pose risks across major maritime routes.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Tuesday (September 29) are 163 Indian seafarers are presently on board 12 commercial vessels operating in the Persian Gulf. It includes a 24-hour control room, continuous vessel monitoring and regular situation reports. The initiative brings together India, Liberia and 23 other partner countries to strengthen international cooperation on maritime safety. The system includes real-time reporting, tracking and monitoring of vessels and seafarers, along with a 24-hour control room.
The government announced the measure in August under its ‘Seafarer-First’ initiative. He said attacks on commercial shipping and seafarers had taken place across several maritime routes and that Indian seafarers had lost their lives. At a ministerial meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, India and Liberia also announced the creation of the ‘Group of Friends on Safety and Security of Shipping and Seafarers’. The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said in August that the Directorate General of Maritime Administration had introduced a graded set of measures under the ‘Seafarer-First’ initiative.
Jaiswal said the Ministry of Shipping is monitoring the vessels and working with Indian missions and other stakeholders whenever assistance is needed. “Our Ministry of Shipping continues to monitor the movement of these ships and is looking at the well-being of all these seafarers, and as and when required, through our embassies and other stakeholders, they do the needful for their well-being and welfare,” he said. The vessels include six India-flagged ships and six foreign-flagged cargo ships carrying cargo to India. The Ministry of Shipping has a real-time monitoring system for vessels and Indian seafarers operating in the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and nearby waters. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar raised the issue during India’s address at the 81st United Nations General Assembly.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the government is keeping track of the movement of the vessels and the welfare of Indian crew members through the Ministry of Shipping, Indian diplomatic missions and other stakeholders.
