The Centre on Tuesday announced a series of measures to monitor Indian seafarers operating in the Strait of Hormuz and support the families of those killed or injured following fresh attacks on two oil tankers amid the ongoing US-Iran conflict.

The decisions were taken at an inter-ministerial meeting chaired by Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal. The government said its response would remain “seafarer-first”, with new measures including a real-time operational dashboard to track Indian crew members and dedicated liaison officers for affected families.

Fresh Attacks Leave One Indian Dead, Several Injured

The review followed attacks on the UAE-flagged oil tankers MT Al Bahiyah and MT Mombasa in the Strait of Hormuz.

The two vessels carried 46 crew members, including 30 Indian seafarers.

One Indian crew member aboard MT Al Bahiyah was killed, taking the number of Indian seafarers killed since the conflict began on February 28 to nine.

Another Indian aboard the same vessel was injured, while nine Indian nationals on MT Mombasa also sustained injuries. Two of them remain in critical condition.

Government Reviews Maritime Security Situation

The meeting was attended by Minister of State Shantanu Thakur, senior officials from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, the Ministry of External Affairs, the Indian Navy, the Directorate General of Shipping and Indian missions in Iran and Oman.

Officials reviewed the security situation across the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman, assessing the risks faced by Indian seafarers and examining contingency and emergency response mechanisms.

Expressing grief over the attacks, Sonowal said he was “profoundly hurt and aggrieved” by the latest death and injuries. He conveyed condolences to the bereaved family and said the government would ensure all affected families received necessary support.

Centre To Track Every Indian Seafarer In The Region

Sonowal directed the Director General of Shipping to establish a vessel-by-vessel operational dashboard covering every Indian seafarer aboard ships operating in the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman.

The system will provide real-time information on vessel location, ownership, cargo, crew strength, crew welfare, threat assessment, intended voyage, next port of call and available facilities.

The minister said every Indian seafarer in the affected region must be individually accounted for, irrespective of the flag under which the vessel operates, and stressed that there could be no compromise on their safety and security.

The ministry was also instructed to maintain round-the-clock coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers, the Indian Navy, the Directorate General of Shipping and Indian diplomatic missions in the region.

Dedicated Officers To Support Families

The government will appoint a dedicated liaison officer for every Indian seafarer affected by the crisis.

The liaison officer will serve as the single point of contact for families and coordinate medical updates, travel documentation, repatriation, financial assistance from the Seafarers Welfare Fund, pending wages, contractual entitlements and other compensation.

Officials have also been directed to work closely with Indian missions in Iran, Oman and the United Arab Emirates, along with authorities in other affected countries, to obtain verified information on navigational safety, route status, port-of-refuge arrangements, hospitals, medical evacuation, repatriation procedures, the handling of mortal remains and ongoing investigations.

India Raises Issue At International Maritime Forums

Sonowal said India had raised the attacks at the International Maritime Organisation and with the relevant flag administrations, stating that the incidents violated international conventions, seafarer safety and the right of innocent passage for merchant vessels.

He also directed that vessels should transit through the affected region only after fresh threat assessments, the professional judgement of the ship’s master and close coordination with competent maritime authorities.

The minister instructed shipowners, vessel managers and Recruitment and Placement Service Licence agencies employing Indian seafarers in the region to submit compliance reports immediately and confirm that no Indian seafarer was being deployed without adequate information, protection and support.

Concluding the meeting, Sonowal said the government’s response would remain focused on safeguarding Indian seafarers while ministries and maritime agencies continued to closely monitor shipping activity in the region following the attacks on MT Al Bahiyah and MT Mombasa.

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