Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Jul 28: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday said 125 Indian seafarers are currently onboard six Indian ships located west of the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, amid heightened security concerns in the Gulf region.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that apart from the Indian vessels, 41 Indian seafarers are also serving on foreign ships operating in the area.

"We have six Indian vessels which are west of the Strait of Hormuz, so in the Persian Gulf, there are 125 seafarers who are onboard these Indian ships. In addition, there are 41 Indian seafarers who are onboard foreign ships which are there in that area," Jaiswal said during a media briefing in New Delhi.

He added that the Ministry of Shipping is closely monitoring the movement of Indian vessels and the welfare of seafarers, while Indian missions in the region remain in contact with authorities to provide assistance if required.

The development comes after a Mozambique-flagged LPG tanker, DISHA, carrying 28 Indian crew members, came under attack in Iranian territorial waters on July 24.

The Indian Embassy in Tehran said all Indian crew members were safe and that it was coordinating with relevant authorities while closely monitoring the situation.

Earlier, the Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DGMA) advised ship owners, ship managers and Recruitment and Placement Service Licence (RPSL) companies against deploying Indian seafarers on vessels travelling through the Strait of Hormuz until further orders.

The maritime regulator said the precautionary measure was aimed at ensuring the safety, security and welfare of Indian seafarers amid ongoing attacks on merchant vessels operating in the conflict-affected Gulf region.

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints, through which a significant portion of global oil shipments pass.