The Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) has issued an urgent security directive restricting the deployment of Indian seafarers to the Persian Gulf and adjacent conflict zones. This critical intervention follows a series of lethal US military precision missile strikes on commercial oil tankers transiting near the Strait of Hormuz and the coast of Oman, which directly impacted vessels crewed by Indian mariners. Notably, an attack on the Palau-flagged MT Settebello resulted in the tragic deaths of three Indian crew members, while other vessels like the MT Marivex and MT Jalveer also faced hostile actions. In response, India’s Ministry of External Affairs has strongly condemned these actions against civilian shipping and lodged a formal protest with US officials, though emergency crew changes remain permitted in the region under strict, informed consent.