India is poised to enhance its seafarer repatriation efforts from West Asia if necessary, according to Mukesh Mangal, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. During a recent inter-ministerial briefing, Mangal stated that the scale of future evacuations would be contingent on the number of Indian seafarers wishing to return home. Currently, there are 13 Indian-flagged vessels in the region with 562 Indian seafarers on board, while approximately 18,000 Indian seafarers are employed throughout West Asia.
The Ministry has successfully facilitated the safe return of over 3,537 Indian seafarers from the region, including 31 evacuated in the last 72 hours from various Gulf locations. Recent maritime security incidents involving Indian crew members have raised concerns, including a fire onboard the Palau-flagged tanker MT MARIVEX, where all 24 Indian crew members were rescued by the Omani Air Force. In another instance, the Palau-flagged MT SETTEBELLO was attacked, resulting in the tragic loss of three Indian crew members, while the remaining 25 were safely evacuated.
In ongoing monitoring efforts, two of the vessels involved in recent incidents are under U.S. sanctions, and another is deemed non-compliant. The Indian Ministry continues to coordinate closely with relevant authorities to ensure the safety and well-being of its seafarers amidst rising geopolitical challenges in the region.
