28 Indian Vessels with 778 Seafarers Stranded in Persian Gulf Amid West Asia Conflict
As many as 28 Indian-flagged vessels carrying 778 Indian seafarers were stranded in the Persian Gulf due to the escalating West Asia conflict.
Of these, 24 vessels with 677 seafarers were on the western side of the Strait of Hormuz (inside the Persian Gulf), unable to transit due to the conflict; 4 vessels with 101 seafarers were on the eastern side (Gulf of Oman).
The government said it was closely monitoring the situation and maintaining contact with all affected vessels and seafarers.
India has over 23,000 seafarers employed in the Gulf region, with 27+ vessels in proximity to the Strait — highlighting the systemic scale of India's maritime labour stake in the region.
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and the Ministry of External Affairs were coordinating for the safety of the seafarers.
India's Maritime Sector: Seafarer Workforce and International Conventions
India is one of the world's top suppliers of seafarers. Indian sailors serve aboard merchant vessels of various flags worldwide, making India a critical part of global maritime labour markets. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) and STCW (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers) Convention govern the certification and rights of seafarers internationally.
The stranded seafarers are covered by MLC 2006 rights including the right to repatriation and emergency assistance — the Indian government has both a diplomatic and legal obligation to facilitate their safe return.
Strait of Hormuz: Strategic Chokepoint and Maritime Law
The Strait of Hormuz is the world's most critical oil chokepoint, lying between Iran (north coast) and the Musandam Peninsula (Oman and UAE, south coast). It is approximately 167 km long and only 39 km wide at its narrowest navigable point. The international sea lanes run through Omani and UAE territorial waters, not Iran's — making Iran's threatened closure legally contested under UNCLOS.
The stranded vessels are caught in the physical consequence of this geopolitical chokepoint — unable to transit safely while the conflict persists, creating both a humanitarian and an economic crisis.
India's Maritime Security Architecture
India's maritime security is governed by the Indian Navy (primary security provider), Indian Coast Guard (coastal and EEZ patrol), and the National Maritime Security Coordinator (NMSC) — a recently created position under the NSA to integrate maritime intelligence and coordination.
India may activate similar protective deployments to the Strait area — consistent with the Navy's established role in protecting Indian maritime interests and personnel in the Persian Gulf.
- Indian vessels stranded (March 11, 2026): 28 vessels (24 west of Hormuz + 4 east)
- Indian seafarers affected: 778 (677 west + 101 east)
- Total Indian seafarers in Gulf region: ~23,000
- India's seafarer workforce: ~240,000 active (~11% of global supply)
- Strait of Hormuz oil transit: ~20 million bpd (~20% of global oil consumption)
- Strait width (navigable): ~39 km at narrowest; 167 km length
- India's share of Hormuz crude flows: 14.7% (second after China's 37.7%)
- India's EEZ: 2.37 million sq km; IFC-IOR launched 2018 at Gurugram