20 Indian-flagged vessels, 540 seafarers in Persian Gulf under close watch: Govt

New Delhi — The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways on Saturday said 20 Indian-flagged vessels carrying 540 Indian seafarers remain in the western Persian Gulf and are being closely monitored.

The ministry said necessary measures have been put in place to safeguard Indian ships and crew operating in the region. It added that all Indian seafarers are safe and no incidents involving Indian-flagged vessels have been reported in the past 24 hours.

Monitoring is being carried out by the Directorate General of Shipping in coordination with ship owners, RPSL agencies and Indian missions abroad. The regulator has also facilitated the safe repatriation of over 938 Indian seafarers so far, including 25 in the last 24 hours.

The ministry said port operations across India remain normal, with State Maritime Boards of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry confirming smooth functioning.

Coordination is ongoing with the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian missions and maritime stakeholders to ensure seafarer welfare and uninterrupted operations. Since February 28, around 4.97 lakh passengers have returned to India from the conflict-affected region, the ministry added.

Officials said the government continues to monitor developments in West Asia, prioritising the safety and security of Indian nationals.

Meanwhile, reports indicated that two merchant vessels carrying petroleum products for India were expected to transit the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday despite ongoing geopolitical tensions. The Indian Navy has deployed warships near key ports to provide assistance, with more vessels expected to arrive in the coming days.
 

With inputs from IANS