The Indian government has taken a big step amid increasing tension in the Gulf region. The government is keeping a close watch on all Indian ships and seafarers present there to ensure their safety. The Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Shipping have informed that 3 Indian sailors have lost their lives in recent incidents near the Strait of Hormuz and one is still missing. Apart from this, 4 others have suffered minor injuries. After this incident, the security arrangements of ships have been made more strict.
How many Indian sailors and ships are present in the Gulf?
According to government data, around 23,000 Indian seafarers are working on various merchant and offshore vessels across the Gulf region. The government is tracking all these. There are 24 Indian ships stationed west of the Strait of Hormuz (Persian Gulf), on which 677 Indian sailors are deployed. At the same time, in its eastern part (Gulf of Oman) there are 76 sailors on 3 ships. On March 13, 2026, an oil tanker named ‘Jag Prakash’ safely left this area and moved towards Africa.
What are the new rules for ships and sailors?
The Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) has implemented several new rules for Indian ships and sailors. Companies have been asked to maintain 24-hour surveillance and set up an emergency control center.
Ships will have to provide their accurate location and information every day through the online Ship Reporting Form. Security drills have been made mandatory to deal with threats like drones and sea mines. It is important to test the Ship Security Alert System (SSAS) before going to dangerous areas. The sailors present in this area have been instructed to register themselves at the Indian Embassy in Tehran.
Control room and helpline facility for help
The Shipping Ministry has set up a 24-hour control room on 28 February 2026 to provide up-to-the-minute information about ships. Apart from this, the helpline number of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is also operational since March 4, on which more than 900 calls and 200 emails have been received so far for help and information. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that the security of Indians is the first priority of the government and for this, talks are being held continuously with countries like UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. To avoid any disruption in trade and energy supply in India, LPG ships are being given priority to stop at ports.
