India’s Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) has constituted a dedicated 24×7 Quick Response Team (QRT) to support Indian seafarers sailing in the high‑risk Persian Gulf region as security threats escalate due to the ongoing West Asia conflict.
Set up under the Directorate General of Shipping, the QRT is mandated “to ensure timely assistance, coordination, and welfare support for Indian seafarers,” and will act as a single-point contact during any maritime emergency involving Indian crew or Indian‑flagged vessels. The team will work in close coordination with shipping companies, RPSL entities, Indian missions abroad, maritime rescue coordination centres and seafarers’ families to facilitate information flow and crisis response.
The move follows a high‑level review meeting chaired by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal to assess the security environment in the Persian Gulf and its implications for Indian maritime assets. Officials said India is monitoring the situation “on a continuous basis,” as several tankers and merchant ships have come under attack in recent days and Indian crew are employed in large numbers on foreign‑flag vessels transiting the region.
The QRT initiative complements recent advisories issued to shipowners and masters on route planning, risk assessment and communication protocols in the Gulf, Strait of Hormuz and adjoining waters, and is seen as a key step to reassure roughly 23,000 Indian seafarers currently working in and around these sea lanes.
