Indian seafarers permitted to transit Strait of Hormuz, with security measures in place
The Indian government is to permit its seafarers to work aboard ships travelling through the Strait of Hormuz – with a “heightened level of security vigilance” in place. The move by India's Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DGMA) comes three weeks after it barred its sailors from joining voyages through the vital waterway, amid safety fears stemming from the US-Iran war. The DGMA on…
India has lifted its ban on seafarers working aboard ships traveling through the Strait of Hormuz, with heightened security measures now in place. This decision comes from the Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DGMA), three weeks after the ban was imposed due to safety concerns following the US-Iran war. The DGMA released a circular on August 5 detailing precautionary steps required for Indian citizens to transit the Strait of Hormuz.
The ban was introduced on July 16 after two Indian seafarers lost their lives and attacks on vessels increased in the conflict-affected area. According to the circular, masters of vessels operating in the Arabian Gulf need to inform the directorate general's communications center before transiting the strait. Additionally, consent from individual Indian seafarers is mandatory.
Recent incidents include the Iranian strike on a Cyprus-flagged container vessel, GFS Galaxy, on July 12, which killed an Indian engineer, Herambh Karmarkar. One Indian sailor was killed, and 45 Indian and Ukrainian seafarers were rescued from UAE tankers Al Bahyah and Mombasa following fires that broke out on board after Iranian strikes on July 14.
India has become the world's second-largest supplier of seafarers, with over 300,000 sailors working in global shipping fleets. The government data shows that India's share has grown from around 5 percent in 2015 to over 12 percent in 2026.
Efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which typically allows passage for about 20 percent of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas, are gaining momentum. The US, UN maritime agency, Iran, and Oman are set to announce a deal to reopen the Strait and restart a 60-day ceasefire negotiation period. This deal would involve separate lanes for inbound and outbound traffic and impose no fees or tolls on vessels.
The temporary deal aims to restore the ceasefire and June 17 framework agreement, with talks resuming on Iran's nuclear program, frozen assets, and a permanent Hormuz arrangement.
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