Shyam Jagannathan, DG, Shipping
| Photo Credit:
BIJOY GHOSH
In an order issued on Monday, the Director General of Shipping, Shyam Jagannathan, said it is imperative to ensure a timely, coordinated, and effective response to safeguard the welfare of Indian seafarers in view of the ongoing conflict in the Persian Gulf.
This comes in the wake of attacks on vessels off the coast of Oman that has resulted in the death of three Indian seafarers. A few crew members working on oil tanker MV Skylight are also missing after the incident and search operations are ongoing.
The Indian Embassy in Oman is coordinating with local officials for the repatriation of crew members who were rescued from MV Skylight.
So far Indian-flagged vessels have not been targeted, but monitoring and verification efforts are ongoing. Indian ships continue to operate in the region, the DGS said.
The Quick Response Team will ensure timely coordination between all concerned authorities, enable an immediate response to emerging situations and facilitate prompt assistance and support to Indian seafarers and their families.
It will co-ordinate with local maritime authorities for ship-to-shore evacuation in the event of further attacks.
“The stakeholders have been advised to maintain heightened vigilance and undertake voyage-specific risk assessments, and vessels operating in the region have been advised to maintain an enhanced security posture and bridge watch, ensure continuous communication readiness, and report any suspicious activity immediately, with transit through high-risk areas to be reviewed by operators based on prevailing conditions,” DGS said.
Published on March 3, 2026