India’s maritime regulator, Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping), has issued an advisory urging Indian seafarers operating in the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman and nearby waters to maintain continuous vigilance and heightened situational awareness in view of recent unprecedented incidents in the region.
The advisory follows reports of a serious onboard emergency in which two seafarers were trapped inside the accommodation area of a tanker after a fire broke out. According to the regulator, the only possible escape route was through the front portholes, but there appeared to be inadequate equipment available to break the glass panels for evacuation.
A senior official clarified that the advisory is part of an interim safety review aimed at strengthening emergency preparedness among seafarers. “This is an overall interim review. The objective is to prepare seafarers to respond effectively to all kinds of emergency situations, including awareness of escape routes and other safety measures. It is not specifically related to the incident involving the tanker,” the official said.
The development comes after the tanker MT Sky Light was attacked on March 1. The vessel’s chief engineer was evacuated to hospital following the incident, while two crew members — Captain Ashish Kumar and wiper Dalip — remain unaccounted for.
The advisory underscores growing concerns over the safety of merchant vessels and crew operating in strategically vital shipping lanes in the Gulf region.