New Delhi, Sep 29: Six India flagged commercial ships and six foreign-flagged vessels carrying cargo to India are currently in the Persian Gulf, west of the Strait of Hormuz, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Tuesday.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said 163 Indian seafarers are serving aboard the 12 vessels. He added that more than 4,500 other Indian seafarers are working on commercial ships operating in the wider region.
The Ministry of Shipping is closely monitoring the movement of the vessels and the welfare of Indian crew members, Jaiswal said during his bi-weekly media briefing.
Responding to a question on the number of India-flagged ships and other vessels of Indian interest in the Gulf, Jaiswal said there were six Indian-flagged ships and an equal number of foreign-flagged vessels carrying cargo to India.
He said Indian authorities, through the Ministry of Shipping, embassies and other stakeholders, were taking necessary measures to ensure the safety and well-being of the seafarers.
The Strait of Hormuz, which connects the Persian Gulf with the Arabian Sea, remains a major international maritime route and is particularly important for global energy supplies.
The presence of Indian vessels and crew in the region has drawn increased attention amid repeated attacks on commercial shipping across West Asian waterways.
India has consistently maintained that attacks on commercial vessels are unacceptable and has called for the protection of seafarers and uninterrupted navigation through international waters.
In July, India strongly condemned attacks on two merchant ships, MT Al Bahiyah and MT Mombasa, while they were transiting the Strait of Hormuz. One Indian national was killed and 10 others were injured in the incidents.
India had expressed deep concern over the violence targeting civilian shipping and seafarers, as well as disruptions to safe passage through the strategic waterway.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also highlighted the growing security risks facing maritime traffic during the inaugural meeting of the Group of Friends on Safety & Security of Shipping & Seafarers on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on September 25.
Jaishankar said attacks on civilian shipping had emerged as a growing concern stretching from the Black Sea and Red Sea to the Gulf.
He referred to recent incidents involving commercial vessels in the region. The Antigua and Barbuda-flagged bulk carrier MV Cape Dao was attacked in the Gulf of Oman, resulting in the death of an Indian sailor.
Earlier, the Panama-flagged oil tanker El Gaia was struck while passing through the Strait of Hormuz, after which an Indian crew member was reported missing.
Jaishankar also pointed to attacks on commercial shipping in the Black Sea. MV Omorfi was hit in Russian territorial waters on July 18, killing its Indian chief officer, while MV Golden Leo was attacked the following day after departing from Odesa, resulting in the deaths of four Indian seafarers.
The MEA had separately condemned the September 23 attack on MV Cape Dao, describing the continuing incidents involving commercial shipping in the region as deeply concerning.
India has called for dialogue and diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions and restore peace. It has also stressed that attacks targeting commercial vessels, seafarers and civilian infrastructure must stop and that free and unhindered navigation and trade through international waterways should be restored.