India Tells Seafarers to Avoid Strait of Hormuz After Crew Deaths

India's Directorate-General of Maritime Administration (DGMA) issued an urgent directive on Wednesday advising seafarers to avoid navigating through the Strait of Hormuz following reports of two fatal incidents involving Indian crew members. The order prohibits ship owners and operators from employing Indian nationals as part of the crew for voyages through the strategic waterway until further notice. The decision followed the confirmation of a second Indian fatality linked to Iranian attacks in the area. On Tuesday, the very large crude carrier (VLCC) Mombasa B, operated by ADNOC, the United Arab Emirates' state energy company, was struck by Iranian missiles while passing through Omani territorial waters. The attack resulted in the death of one Indian crew member and left six others injured. A second ship, the Al Bayah, also operated by ADNOC, was similarly targeted, suffering substantial damage. On Sunday, the Cyprus-flagged container ship GFS Galaxy, which carried 11 Indian national crew members, was hit by an unidentified projectile while traversing Omani waters. Among the casualties was Heramb Karmarkar, a 30-year-old marine engineer. His family received notification of his death from the shipping company operating the vessel. Karmarkar's father-in-law, Vivek Tandon, expressed his grief and requested the return of his son's body to India. According to Tandon, Karmarkar had recently sent a message to his family indicating the ship had safely passed through the Gulf. The Indian consulate in Dubai reported that the Oman Coast Guard recovered Karmarkar’s body approximately 60 hours after he was declared missing. The consulate stated it was in contact with the grieving family and was coordinating with UAE authorities and the shipping company to offer necessary support. However, Karmarkar’s remains are currently in the custody of the Oman Navy. DGMA emphasized the need for increased safety precautions due to the escalating security risks in the Persian Gulf. It noted the necessity of protecting Indian seafarers operating in the region. Majoj Yadav, representing the Forward Seamen’s Union of India, criticized the DGMA’s measures, arguing they fail to address the ongoing danger faced by thousands of Indian workers already stranded in the area. Yadav questioned the government’s commitment to rescuing these individuals from the hazardous conditions. India formally protested the attacks to Iran on Tuesday and activated the Information Fusion Center, Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR), a naval-led maritime security initiative, to aid in search and rescue efforts. Despite these actions, New Delhi has not yet pledged to deploy military forces to shield its citizens from potential threats posed by Iranian activities in the region.