Image for representation purposes only India has ordered shipowners, ship managers and recruitment companies to stop deploying Indian seafarers on vessels sailing through the Strait of Hormuz until further orders, following a series of attacks on merchant ships in the Gulf region that have killed and injured Indian crew members. The advisory was issued late on Wednesday by the Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DGMA), which cited the worsening security situation in the Persian Gulf and continuing attacks on commercial vessels. India is one of the world’s largest suppliers of merchant seafarers, with government data showing more than 300,000 Indians serving on ships worldwide. “In view of the heightened security situation in the Persian Gulf region, including incidents resulting in casualties among Indian seafarers and continuing attacks on merchant vessels during the ongoing conflict, the Directorate considers it necessary to adopt enhanced precautionary measures,” the DGMA said. Under the advisory, shipowners, ship managers and Recruitment and Placement Service Licence (RPSL) companies have been instructed not to deploy Indian seafarers on vessels undertaking voyages through the Strait of Hormuz until further orders. The DGMA also asked vessels operating in the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and nearby waters to remain on high security alert, continuously monitor navigational warnings and security advisories, and strictly follow the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code. In case of an emergency, ships and seafarers have been advised to immediately contact the DGMA Communication Centre or the Indian Navy’s Information Fusion Centre–Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR). The regulator said the decision follows a series of attacks on merchant vessels that have significantly increased the risks to commercial shipping in the region. The advisory referred to recent incidents involving Mombasa B, Al Bahyah, GFS Galaxy,