File photo: Ships in Hormuz NEW DELHI: For tracking ships with Indian seafarers in conflict-hit West Asia, shipping minister Sarbananda Sonowal Tuesday directed maritime regulator DG Shipping to have a comprehensive vessel-by-vessel operational dashboard to account for every such ship, irrespective of their flags.The online dashboard — for tracking their movement in Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman — will provide real-time information on vessel position, ownership, cargo, crew strength, crew welfare, threat assessment, intended voyage, next port of call and availability of food, fuel, medicines and communication facilities.This comes amid fresh strikes on two foreign-flagged commercial ships in the West Asia region that had 30 Indian seafarers.“The instructions are clear that every Indian seafarer has to be accounted for in this conflict zone. DG Shipping has been directed to ensure a liaison officer is appointed to look after the affected seafarers,” said an official. Shipping ministry said each liaison officer will serve as the single point of contact for families, coordinating medical updates, travel documentation, family assistance, repatriation, Seafarers Welfare Fund support, outstanding wages, contractual entitlements and other compensations.Sonowal was chairing a high-level inter-ministerial review meeting with officials from different ministries, representatives of Indian missions in Oman and Iran on the evolving security environment across Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman. The meeting assessed risks facing Indian seafarers and evaluated India’s contingency and emergency response mechanisms.TOI has learnt that currently there are seven Indian-flagged ships in the west of Strait of Hormuz with 148 Indian seafarers and another five foreign-flagged vessels carrying fertiliser are bound for India.The minister also directed officials to work closely with Indian missions in Iran, Oman and the UAE, and other affected nations in the region, alongside MEA, to obtain verified and realtime information relating to navigational safety, coastal-state advisories, route status, port-of-refuge arrangements, hospitals, medical evacuation, repatriation procedures, mortal remains management and the status of ongoing investigations.“Every vessel movement through the affected region, the minister directed, must be undertaken only after a fresh threat assessment, the professional judgement of the ship’s master and close coordination with competent maritime authorities,” the ministry said.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos5 Plots, 4 Flats, Villa: ACB Raid On HMDA Engineer Exposes Rs 9.24 Crore Assets | HyderabadIndia-UK Trade Deal Kicks In From July 15, 99% Of Indian Exports Get Duty-Free AccessSupreme Court Refuses Stay In Bhojshala Case, Allows Alternate Namaz Site Till Final VerdictOp Vijay: How India Captured Tololing And Point 5140 Before Tiger HillAssam’s Tinsukia Uses CCTV And LED Screens To Shame Alleged Public Urinators’Brazenly Violated Our Order’: Supreme Court Imposes ₹3 Lakh Fine On Comedian Samay RainaCalls For Wangchuk To Call Off Hunger Strike Grow: Politicians, Actors, Even Dipke Issue Appeals₹198 Crore, 8 Criminal Cases: What Prashant Kishor’s Bankipur Bypoll Affidavit RevealsIron Rods Hurled, Car Windows Smashed As Family Chased For 15 Km After Harassment RowViral Video Claims Pensioner’s Bank Account Showed Rs 759 Crore, Raises Questions Over Glitch123PhotostoriesFrom gold mines to desert ruins; 5 real ghost towns across America that look frozen in timeThink you know cows? These 5 surprising facts say otherwise8 ways to stop overthinking before it steals your peace of mindAlia Bhatt serves gothic glam in an all-black look as she joins Sohum Shah for ‘Tumbbad 2’Your kidneys could be losing function for years before creatinine rises; Doctor explains the silent damage most people never notice10 literary baby names inspired by Shakespeare’s timeless playsAvoiding sweets but blood sugar still rising? These overlooked daily habits could be the real reason, says doctor“Children need more than just parents to grow”: Kajol on why she sent her daughter to a boarding schoolHPV vaccine can prevent most cervical cancer cases: What every parent and young woman should know before decidingChef Sanjeev Kapoor urges revival of Kerala’s heritage cuisine, shares 5 timeless forgotten dishes worth trying123Hot PicksNEET recorded responseRSCIT admit cardGold rate todayITR filingOil Price TodaySonam Wangchuk hunger strikeS. JaishankarWayanad LandslideStrait of HormuTop TrendingKarnataka Black MagicVietnam Boat TragedyITR filingFIFA World Cup 2026Tamil Nadu Steel Melting UnitGhaziabad Mall Rape MurderDelhi Police Wife MurderSharad PawarJharkhand RapeIran war
NEW DELHI: For tracking ships with Indian seafarers in conflict-hit West Asia, shipping minister Sarbananda Sonowal Tuesday directed maritime regulator DG Shipping to have a comprehensive vessel-by-vessel operational dashboard to account for every such ship, irrespective of their flags.The online dashboard — for tracking their movement in Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman — will provide real-time information on vessel position, ownership, cargo, crew strength, crew welfare, threat assessment, intended voyage, next port of call and availability of food, fuel, medicines and communication facilities.This comes amid fresh strikes on two foreign-flagged commercial ships in the West Asia region that had 30 Indian seafarers.“The instructions are clear that every Indian seafarer has to be accounted for in this conflict zone. DG Shipping has been directed to ensure a liaison officer is appointed to look after the affected seafarers,” said an official. Shipping ministry said each liaison officer will serve as the single point of contact for families, coordinating medical updates, travel documentation, family assistance, repatriation, Seafarers Welfare Fund support, outstanding wages, contractual entitlements and other compensations.Sonowal was chairing a high-level inter-ministerial review meeting with officials from different ministries, representatives of Indian missions in Oman and Iran on the evolving security environment across Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman. The meeting assessed risks facing Indian seafarers and evaluated India’s contingency and emergency response mechanisms.TOI has learnt that currently there are seven Indian-flagged ships in the west of Strait of Hormuz with 148 Indian seafarers and another five foreign-flagged vessels carrying fertiliser are bound for India.The minister also directed officials to work closely with Indian missions in Iran, Oman and the UAE, and other affected nations in the region, alongside MEA, to obtain verified and realtime information relating to navigational safety, coastal-state advisories, route status, port-of-refuge arrangements, hospitals, medical evacuation, repatriation procedures, mortal remains management and the status of ongoing investigations.“Every vessel movement through the affected region, the minister directed, must be undertaken only after a fresh threat assessment, the professional judgement of the ship’s master and close coordination with competent maritime authorities,” the ministry said.