The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, on Tuesday said six India-flagged ships and six foreign-flagged vessels which are of Indian interest are at present in the Persian Gulf area, west of the Strait of Hormuz. There are around 163 Indian seafarers who are onboard these vessels, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said this in response to a query at his bi-weekly media briefing.
4,500 Indian Seafarers Onboard Commercial Vessels: MEA
Expressing safety concerns, Jaiswal said there are also over 4,500 Indian seafarers who are onboard various other commercial vessels which are plying in the area. The Union Ministry of Shipping continues to monitor the movement of these ships, as also it is looking at the well-being of all these seafarers, he added.
"We have at this point in time, six India-flagged ships, commercial vessels in the Persian Gulf, west of (the Strait of) Hormuz. We also have six foreign-flagged vessels, which are carrying cargo to India. So, six India-flagged vessels and six foreign-flagged vessels which are of Indian interest. So 12 ships are there. On these ships, we have around 163 Indian seafarers who are on board," he said.
On India's side, we remain committed to the safety and well-being of the Indian seafaring community abroad, the MEA said.
Various commercial vessels carrying Indian and other seafarers have come under attack in recent months. India has stated at various fora that attacks on commercial shipping anywhere is "unacceptable".
One Indian National Killed, 10 Injured In July
In July, India had strongly condemned the attacks on two merchant vessels in Strait of Hormuz, in which one Indian national was killed and 10 others were injured, and the "acts of violence targeting seafarers and disrupting free and safe navigation through international waterways like the Strait of Hormuz". The MEA had said that India was "deeply concerned" by the attacks on MT Al Bahiyah and MT Mombasa, during their transit through the strait.
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India Raises Seafarers Safety Concern At UNGA
Earlier on Saturday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, while addressing the high-level 81st session of the UN General Assembly, asserted that the targeting of commercial shipping and seafarers amid the ongoing Gulf conflict is "simply unacceptable". "This year, we are witnessing a conflict in the Gulf, one that is exacerbating an already difficult situation. We remain deeply concerned over continuing hostilities," Jaishankar said.
He particularly called out the targeting of commercial shipping and seafarers transiting international waterways amid the ongoing conflict.
(With PTI inputs)
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