India bans seafarer deployment through Hormuz; decision comes after 13 deaths

The Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DGMA) has officially suspended the deployment of Indian seafarers on commercial vessels transiting the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz. Issued on Wednesday, the regulatory advisory directs all Indian shipping companies, vessel managers, and recruitment agencies to halt crew placements along this route until further notice. This policy shift is a direct response to escalating security risks and military exchanges between the United States and Iran in the Gulf region.

The decision follows the tragic deaths of two Indian seafarers in separate maritime attacks near the waterway over the last three days. The maritime regulator emphasized that the welfare and physical safety of Indian sailors must be prioritized over commercial and operational interests. The advisory specifically identified several merchant vessels, including the Mombasa B and GFS Galaxy, as having faced heightened hostile threats while operating near the volatile corridor.

India represents the world's third-largest supplier of seafarers, with over 300,000 sailors currently active in the global merchant navy. This suspension is expected to significantly affect global crew logistics, as nearly one-fifth of the world's oil supplies pass through this specific shipping lane. Since the Middle East conflict intensified in February, at least 13 Indian nationals have lost their lives in maritime incidents across the Gulf region.