The Union government on Tuesday said that it will establish a dashboard to track every Indian seafarer on vessels operating in the conflict-hit Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman.

This came after another Indian sailor was killed and 10 were injured earlier in the day in Iranian attacks on two oil tankers transiting the southern shipping lane of the Strait of Hormuz. The two vessels – Mombasa and Al Bahiyah – had a combined crew of 46, including 30 Indian seafarers.

Since the conflict in West Asia broke out on February 28, at least five Indian seafarers have died and one is missing. There have been 29 incidents of attacks on vessels carrying Indian seafarers, according to The Indian Express.

In an inter-ministerial meeting on Tuesday, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal directed that a “Seafarer-First” response should be adopted against the security threats in West Asia, according to a press release.

The measures include vessel-by-vessel monitoring of Indian seafarers, the appointment of dedicated liaison officers for affected crew members, and round-the-clock coordination between the shipping ministry, the Ministry of External Affairs, the Navy, the Directorate General of Shipping and Indian missions in Iran, Oman and the United Arab Emirates.

Regarding the dashboard, Sonowal said it will track every Indian seafarer on vessels operating in the region, regardless of the ship’s flag.

“The dashboard will provide real-time information on vessel position, ownership, cargo, crew strength, crew welfare, threat assessment, intended voyage, next port of call and the availability of facilities,” stated the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.

It added that dedicated liaison officers will be appointed to act as the single point of contact for affected families, coordinating medical updates, travel documentation, repatriation, welfare fund support, outstanding wages, contractual entitlements and compensation.

All shipowners, vessel managers and Recruitment and Placement Service Licence agencies have been directed to submit compliance reports confirming that no Indian seafarer is being required to sail without adequate information, protection and support, the ministry stated.

This came after one Indian seafarer aboard Al Bahiyah was killed and another injured in the attack on Tuesday. Nine of the 18 Indian crew members on the Mombasa were injured, including two who were seriously hurt.

On Sunday, a Cyprus-flagged container ship, GFS Galaxy, was allegedly attacked by Iran off the coast of Oman.

One Indian crew member remains missing following the attack, while 10 other Indian seafarers were rescued.

The Indian external affairs ministry had said on Sunday that continued attacks on commercial shipping in West Asia were “deeply worrisome”. It called for the de-escalation of tensions and for the “conclusion of ongoing negotiations for a diplomatic solution so that peace and stability can return to the region”.

Written by Sara Varghese. Edited by Sneha.