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Following attacks on the merchant vessels MT Al Bahiyah and MT Mombasa carrying Indian crew members in the Strait of Hormuz, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways launched a whole-of-government ‘Seafarer-First’ response to strengthen the safety and welfare of Indian seafarers operating in conflict-affected West Asian waters.

What is the ‘Seafarer-First’ Initiative?

• It is a flag-neutral, emergency contingency mechanism under which every Indian seafarer operating in high-risk maritime zones is to be individually accounted for, irrespective of the flag under which their vessel operates.
• The mechanism brings together the MoPSW, MEA, Indian Navy, Directorate General of Shipping (DGS), Indian Missions and other maritime agencies.
• The immediate focus is on the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman, where heightened geopolitical tensions can disrupt both maritime security and global trade.

Major Measures

• Vessel-by-vessel monitoring: The DGS will maintain a live dashboard covering vessel location, crew strength, welfare, cargo, intended voyage and threat assessment.
• Dedicated liaison officers: Each affected Indian seafarer will have a designated officer to coordinate with families on medical assistance, repatriation, wages, contractual rights and welfare support.
• 24×7 emergency assistance: A multi-channel grievance and emergency support mechanism has been activated for seafarers and their families.
• Threat-based voyage assessment: Vessels entering affected waters must undergo a fresh threat assessment, along with the professional judgement of the ship's Master and coordination with maritime authorities.
• Protection against forced deployment: Shipowners, vessel managers and RPSL agencies have been directed to ensure that Indian seafarers are not compelled to sail through high-risk zones without adequate information, protection and support.

Why is the Strait of Hormuz Important?

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical maritime chokepoint connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea. Its security has implications well beyond shipping because it is a major route for the movement of global energy supplies.

Therefore, attacks on merchant vessels can simultaneously create humanitarian, maritime-security and economic risks, particularly for countries such as India that depend heavily on seaborne energy imports and have a large community of seafarers.