3 weeks ago
4,052 Indian Seafarers Repatriated From Gulf Amid Middle East Conflict
Many Indian sailors, called seafarers, work on ships sailing near the Middle East.
Lately, there has been fighting in that part of the world, and some ships have been attacked.
To keep the sailors safe, the Indian government helped 4,052 of them come back home from the Gulf region.
Sixty-two ships on their way to India also passed safely through a very important waterway called the Strait of Hormuz.
The government is telling ships to follow strict safety rules and to be extra careful in dangerous waters like the Black Sea and near Yemen.
It also set up a control room that works day and night to watch over sailors and ships.
A special website called the eNavik Portal lets sailors quickly report problems and get help.
The government stays in touch with sailors' families, and if a sailor dies, the family receives Rs 10,00,000 in support.
All these steps are meant to protect Indian sailors while the Middle East conflict continues.
Minister Sarbananda Sonowal told Parliament that 4,052 seafarers have been repatriated from the Gulf region amid the Middle East conflict.
As of August 3, 62 India-bound vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz, including 23 Indian-flagged and 39 foreign-flagged ships.
The Directorate General of Shipping mandated full International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code measures and advised against deploying Indian seafarers on voyages transiting the Gulf region.
Advisories were issued for vessels in the Black Sea and in the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, southern Red Sea and adjoining Yemen waters, requiring enhanced caution and security assessments.
Measures include a 24x7 Control Room, daily Situation Reports, the eNavik Portal, and Rs 10,00,000 compensation through the Seafarers Welfare Fund Society in fatality cases.
- Who
- India's Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, Indian seafarers, and the Directorate General of Shipping and Directorate General of Maritime Administration
- What
- 4,052 Indian seafarers repatriated from the Gulf region and 62 India-bound vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz, alongside new maritime security advisories and safeguards
- Where
- Gulf region, Strait of Hormuz, Black Sea, Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, southern Red Sea and adjoining Yemen waters; announced in a written reply in the Lok Sabha in New Delhi
- When
- Announced on Friday, August 7, with vessel transit data as of August 3
- Why
- The evolving Middle East conflict and renewed attacks on merchant vessels
Key facts
- Seafarers repatriated
- 4,052
- Vessels transited Strait of Hormuz
- 62 (as of August 3)
- Indian-flagged vessels
- 23
- Foreign-flagged vessels
- 39
- Announcement forum
- Written reply in the Lok Sabha
- Fatality compensation
- Rs 10,00,000 via the Seafarers Welfare Fund Society
- Monitoring measures
- 24x7 Control Room, live vessel-and-crew database, Situation Report every 24 hours
- Digital platform
- eNavik Portal with casualty reporting, crisis management and grievance redressal modules
Quotes
Sarbananda Sonowal
Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
“"Welfare and assistance is also being provided by close and continuing contact with the families of affected seafarers and compensation is provided in fatality cases. Immediate support includes release of Rs 10,00,000 through the Seafarers Welfare Fund Society."”
NDTV
thehansindia.com
freepressjournal.in
Sources
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