India has announced vessel-by-vessel monitoring of Indian sailors as more Indian casualties are reported in the marine sector following the conflict in the Strait of Hormuz.
In the latest incident reported from the region, an Indian engineer Heramb Karmarkar was killed after the Cyprus-flagged container ship he was on was attacked in the strait.
Karmarkar is the second Indian seafarer to be killed in the region in three days.
Another Indian seafarer was killed on Tuesday after two vessels were attacked while transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
New Delhi lodged a strong protest with Iran after summoning its deputy ambassador over Tuesday’s killing.
India’s Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), Sarbananda Sonowal announced a comprehensive ‘Seafarer-First’ response to safeguard every Indian seafarer operating in the conflict-affected region.
Sonowal ordered real-time vessel-by-vessel monitoring, the appointment of dedicated liaison officers for every affected Indian seafarer and round-the-clock coordination by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, in association with Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (MoPNG), Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilisers, the Indian Navy, the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS), and respective Indian missions.
As part of the response, Director General of Shipping (DGS) will establish a comprehensive vessel-by-vessel operational dashboard to account for every Indian on every vessel, irrespective of their flags, operating in the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman.
The dashboard will provide real-time information on vessel position, ownership, cargo, crew strength, crew welfare, threat assessment, intended voyage, next port of call and the availability of facilities.
India’s response assumes significance following the attacks on MT Al Bahiyah and MT Mombasa in the Strait of Hormuz. The vessels together carried 30 Indian seafarers among a combined crew of 46. One Indian seafarer lost his life while another sustained injuries aboard MT Al Bahiyah. On MT Mombasa, nine Indian nationals were injured, including two who remain seriously injured.
As part of the initiative, every Indian seafarer in the affected region must be individually accounted for, irrespective of the vessel’s flag.
To ensure uninterrupted assistance to affected families, a dedicated liaison officer is also appointed for every Indian seafarer impacted by the crisis, the statement said. The liaison officer will serve as the single point of contact for families, coordinating medical updates, travel documentation, family assistance, repatriation, Seafarers Welfare Fund support, outstanding wages, contractual entitlements and other compensations.
The ministry has also set up a 24X7 helpline to support the affected families. The international toll-free number is +1-888-988-0256, while the toll-free number from India is 1800-889-7768. The helpline can be accessed via WhatsApp at 91 8655856830 or by email to enavik.24×7[at]gov[dot]in.