India tightened oversight of its merchant fleet after Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal chaired a review meeting on Tuesday to enforce emergency operating protocols for Indian-flagged vessels navigating the Middle East, as tensions in the region disrupt commercial shipping.
Officials from the Directorate General of Shipping briefed the minister on enhanced real-time vessel tracking, increased reporting frequency and round-the-clock monitoring through the Maritime Domain Awareness Centre and the Directorate General of Shipping Communication Centre, according to an official statement. Mandatory reporting requirements for vessel masters, owners and managers operating in sensitive waters have also been prescribed.
The ministry said authorities are maintaining “24x7 monitoring” of Indian-flagged ships and are in continuous coordination with other government agencies to safeguard vessels and seafarers. “All Indian-flagged vessels operating in the region have been advised to exercise heightened caution and comply with prescribed reporting protocols,” the statement said.
The stepped-up surveillance follows a series of security incidents affecting commercial shipping in the Persian Gulf and adjoining waters, a key corridor for global crude and container trade. While there have been no reported casualties on Indian-flagged ships, the government has separately acknowledged fatalities involving Indian seafarers serving on foreign-flagged vessels.
The ministry said while there have been no confirmed casualties, detention or boarding involving Indian-flagged vessels operating in the Persian Gulf, even as four incidents involving Indian seafarers on foreign-flagged ships have resulted in three deaths and one injury amid escalating regional tensions.
India has significant exposure to the region through energy imports and merchant shipping traffic. Authorities said they will continue to review the situation and take “appropriate measures” to ensure safe passage of Indian vessels transiting through high-risk areas.
Officials from the Directorate General of Shipping briefed the minister on enhanced real-time vessel tracking, increased reporting frequency and round-the-clock monitoring through the Maritime Domain Awareness Centre and the Directorate General of Shipping Communication Centre, according to an official statement. Mandatory reporting requirements for vessel masters, owners and managers operating in sensitive waters have also been prescribed.
The ministry said authorities are maintaining “24x7 monitoring” of Indian-flagged ships and are in continuous coordination with other government agencies to safeguard vessels and seafarers. “All Indian-flagged vessels operating in the region have been advised to exercise heightened caution and comply with prescribed reporting protocols,” the statement said.
The stepped-up surveillance follows a series of security incidents affecting commercial shipping in the Persian Gulf and adjoining waters, a key corridor for global crude and container trade. While there have been no reported casualties on Indian-flagged ships, the government has separately acknowledged fatalities involving Indian seafarers serving on foreign-flagged vessels.
The ministry said while there have been no confirmed casualties, detention or boarding involving Indian-flagged vessels operating in the Persian Gulf, even as four incidents involving Indian seafarers on foreign-flagged ships have resulted in three deaths and one injury amid escalating regional tensions.
India has significant exposure to the region through energy imports and merchant shipping traffic. Authorities said they will continue to review the situation and take “appropriate measures” to ensure safe passage of Indian vessels transiting through high-risk areas.
