India’s maritime authority, the Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping), has issued an advisory to Indian seafarers operating in the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman, and surrounding waters. This alert is prompted by recent alarming incidents in the region, urging crew members to maintain constant vigilance and heightened situational awareness.
The advisory stems from a serious incident where two seafarers were trapped in a tanker’s accommodation area during a fire. Reports indicated that their only escape route was through front portholes, yet there was inadequate equipment available to break the glass for evacuation.
A senior official clarified that this advisory is part of an ongoing safety review focused on enhancing emergency preparedness among seafarers. The goal is to ensure crew members are well-equipped to respond to various emergencies, including knowledge of evacuation routes and safety protocols. It is important to note that this initiative is not directly related to the tanker incident.
This development follows an attack on the tanker MT Sky Light on March 1, which resulted in the evacuation of the chief engineer while two crew members, Captain Ashish Kumar and wiper Dalip, remain unaccounted for. The advisory highlights rising concerns regarding the safety of merchant vessels and crews navigating key shipping lanes in the Gulf region.
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