India will scale up seafarer repatriation efforts if the need arises, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, Mukesh Mangal said Thursday. Addressing journalists during an inter-ministerial briefing on West Asia issues, he said, "It all depends on how many seafarers are willing to come...if there is a need we will increase our effort."

Mangal said there are currently 13 Indian flagged vessels in the region with 562 Indian seafarers on them. In all there are 18,000 Indian seafarers in West Asia and roughly 3.2 lakh around the world.

The Ministry, through the Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping), has facilitated the safe repatriation of more than 3,537 Indian seafarers so far, including 31 in the last 72 hours from various locations across the Gulf region, an official statement said.

Listing recent attacks involving Indians, the ministry said a fire was reported onboard Palau flagged vessel MT MARIVEX, near the Omani coast. There were 24 Indian crew, and all crew members were safely rescued by Omani Air Force on June 8.

Later on June 10, vessel MT SETTEBELLO, Palau flagged, Oil tanker was attack and onboard emergency procedures were initiated. At the time of the incident, there were total 28 Seafarers were on the board including 24 Indian, 2 Pakistani, 1 Russian and 1 Ukrainian. "Unfortunately, 3 Indian crew members; have lost their life and we extend our deepest condolences, the statement said, adding the remaining 25 crew member including 21 Indians have been safely evacuated," the statement said.

On Thursday, Guinea-Bissau flagged vessel Asphalt/Bitumen Tanker MT JALVEER (IMO: 9486283) was reportedly involved in a maritime security incident in the vicinity of Shinas Port, Oman. The vessel has 20 Indian seafarers onboard, all of whom are reported to be safe.

Officials said two of these attacked vessels were sanctioned by the US Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

The third is categorised as a non-compliant ship.

Source: ET Infra. Com

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