India has ordered ship owners, managers, and recruitment agencies to cease deploying Indian seafarers on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
The directive follows a sharp increase in attacks on commercial shipping in the chokepoint, prompting the government to prioritize crew safety amid deteriorating security conditions.
The move introduces a new layer of operational risk for the global shipping industry.
Indian nationals constitute a significant portion of the world’s merchant marine workforce; restricting their deployment on high-risk routes could exacerbate existing crew shortages and increase insurance premiums for vessels operating in the Persian Gulf region.
This development follows India’s formal protest to Iran regarding recent strikes on merchant vessels, which resulted in the death of an Indian seafarer and injuries to others.
The escalation coincides with broader geopolitical tensions, including recent US military strikes on Greater Tunb Island, which have further heightened fears of supply chain disruption.