New Delhi: The Central government has directed shipowners, ship managers and recruitment companies not to deploy Indian seafarers on vessels undertaking trips through the Strait of Hormuz in view of renewed tensions between the United States and Iran.
“Ship Owners, Ship Managers and RPSL Companies are directed to avoid deploying Indian seafarers on vessels undertaking voyages involving passage through the Strait of Hormuz until further orders,” the Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DGMA) stated in a post on X on Wednesday.
The maritime regulator said the move was aimed at safeguarding the safety, security, and welfare of Indian seafarers amid a “significant” increase in risks faced by commercial ships — including Mombasa B, Al Bahyah, GFS Galaxy, MT Wedyan, and Al Rekayyat — operating in the conflict-affected region.
“In view of the heightened security situation in the Persian Gulf region … the Directorate considers it necessary to adopt enhanced precautionary measures to safeguard the interests of Indian seafarers serving on board ships operating in the region,” the order said.
Advisory for Indian Maritime Stakeholders
In view of the heightened security situation in the Gulf region, the Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DGMA), through DGMA Circular No. 36 of 2026, has directed Ship Owners, Ship Managers and RPSL Companies to avoid… pic.twitter.com/s8XgKI1ifn
— Directorate General of Shipping, Govt. of India (@dgshipping_IN) July 15, 2026
Two Indian nationals — 31-year-old Rohan Kumar from Bihar’s Gopalganj district and 30-year-old Herambh Karmarkar from Pune – were killed in separate attacks on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
Kumar lost his life in missile attacks on two Emirati oil tankers — MT Mombasa and MT Al Bahiyah — in the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday.
Karmarkar went missing after an attack on the cargo vessel MV GFS Galaxy off the Omanese coast, before he was confirmed dead, the Indian Consulate in Dubai said.
India is the world’s third-largest supplier of seafarers, with more than 300,000 sailors working across global shipping fleets. Since the outbreak of the conflict in the Middle East in February this year, at least 13 Indian nationals have been killed in the Gulf region, government sources said.
Iranian Deputy Chief of Mission Mohammad Javad Hosseini was summoned by the External Affairs ministry in New Delhi two days ago. Anand Prakash, the joint secretary handling the Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran division, lodged a strong protest over the incident.
