What Happened
- The Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) reported that approximately 23,000 Indian seafarers are working across merchant, harbour, and offshore vessels in the broader Gulf region, all exposed to the risks of the ongoing Iran-US-Israel conflict
- Of these, 768 Indian crew members are serving on 28 Indian-flagged vessels that remain stranded in the Persian Gulf — 24 vessels (677 seafarers) west of the Strait of Hormuz and 4 vessels (101 seafarers) east of the strait
- So far, 215 stranded seafarers have been evacuated from locations including Muscat (Oman) and Bahrain by Indian government coordination
- Three Indian seafarers have died in the conflict, one remains missing, and four injured have been treated and discharged
- The DGS 24-hour control room has been operational since February 28, 2026, handling over 2,425 calls and 4,441 emails
Static Topic Bridges
India's Merchant Marine and Seafarer Workforce
India is one of the world's largest suppliers of trained seafarers. The maritime sector contributes to India's economy both directly (shipping earnings, port revenues) and through remittances from the approximately 1.5-2 lakh (150,000-200,000) Indian seafarers working on international vessels globally. India ranks among the top 5 countries globally in seafarer supply. The Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways regulates seafarer training, certification, and welfare. India is a signatory to the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC, 2006), which sets minimum labour standards for seafarers.
- Indian seafarers on international vessels globally: approximately 150,000-200,000
- India's global seafarer supply rank: Top 5 (alongside Philippines, China, Ukraine, Indonesia)
- DGS: Directorate General of Shipping, under Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
- Maritime Labour Convention (MLC, 2006): Sets minimum standards for seafarer rights, wages, working conditions, repatriation
- Standards of Training Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW, 1978, revised 1995, 2010): International standards for maritime training
- Seafarer Annual remittances to India: Several billion dollars per year
Connection to this news: With 23,000 Indian seafarers in the Gulf conflict zone — representing a substantial share of the global Indian seafarer workforce — the DGS crisis response is protecting both individuals and India's strategic interest in maintaining its maritime workforce reputation and supply.
Seafarer Rights and Welfare Under International Law
International maritime law provides a framework for seafarer welfare, primarily through the MLC 2006 (Maritime Labour Convention), often called the "Seafarers' Bill of Rights." It covers: minimum wages, rest hours, repatriation, medical care, social security, and protection against abandonment. "Seafarer abandonment" — when shipowners strand seafarers without pay or repatriation — is a recognised legal problem addressed by MLC 2006. During the Hormuz crisis, India's concern is not abandonment but the more acute risk of seafarers being caught in an active war zone with no ability to evacuate.
- MLC 2006: Entered into force August 20, 2013; consolidates 37 previous ILO maritime conventions
- MLC covers: Seafarers from any country on ships flying any MLC-ratified flag
- Seafarer abandonment: When shipowners leave seafarers stranded without wages or repatriation; MLC provides financial security bonds
- IMO (International Maritime Organization): Sets safety standards; Resolution A.1058(27) on seafarer abandonment
- SOLAS Chapter V, Regulation 33: Duty to render assistance to persons in distress at sea (legally binding)
- India's MLC ratification: 2015
Connection to this news: The 768 seafarers on stranded vessels represent a potential mass abandonment scenario if the conflict continues indefinitely — the DGS's active coordination and the Indian Navy's presence are preventing this from becoming a larger humanitarian crisis.
India's Operation Saindhu (Gulf Evacuation)
During the current West Asia conflict, India has activated evacuation mechanisms comparable to previous operations in the region. Historical precedents include Operation Sukoon (Lebanon 2006 — evacuated 2,280 Indians), Operation Rahat (Yemen 2015 — evacuated 4,741 Indians), and Operation Vande Bharat (COVID 2020 — largest ever repatriation of 10 million). The current operation — coordinating evacuation of stranded seafarers, providing consular support, and deploying Indian Navy ships in the Gulf of Oman — is a more complex operation because the conflict zone spans international waters rather than a single country.
- Operation Sukoon (Lebanon 2006): Indian Navy evacuated 2,280 Indians + foreign nationals
- Operation Rahat (Yemen 2015): Evacuated 4,741 Indians + 960 foreign nationals from 41 countries
- Operation Vande Bharat (2020-2022): COVID repatriation; 10+ million Indians
- Indian Navy Gulf presence: Ships deployed to Gulf of Oman for escort and evacuation duties
- MEA 24x7 helpline: +91-11-2301-2113
- Indian Missions involved: Indian Embassy in Tehran, High Commission in Muscat, Embassy in Manama (Bahrain), Embassy in Kuwait
Connection to this news: The 215 seafarers already evacuated from Muscat and Bahrain — and the DGS's 24-hour coordination — demonstrate that India's crisis evacuation machinery is functioning effectively, though the scale of 23,000 at-risk seafarers is far larger than previous Gulf operations.
Key Facts & Data
- Total Indian seafarers in Gulf region: approximately 23,000
- Stranded on 28 Indian-flagged vessels: 768 (677 west of Hormuz + 101 east)
- Seafarers evacuated: 215 (from Muscat and Bahrain)
- Indian seafarers killed: 3; missing: 1; injured and treated: 4
- DGS control room calls handled: 2,425+
- DGS control room emails handled: 4,441+
- DGS advisory issued: February 28, 2026
- Operation timeline: Conflict began February 27, 2026; DGS activated February 28
- Global Indian seafarers (total): approximately 150,000-200,000
- MLC 2006 ratified by India: 2015