India has directed shipowners, ship managers and recruitment companies not to deploy Indian seafarers on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz until further orders. The Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DGMA) issued the order on Wednesday as tensions between the United States and Iran continue to rise. The decision follows the deaths of two Indian sailors in separate attacks on commercial vessels in the region over the past three days.

India is the world's third-largest supplier of seafarers. Government data shows that more than 300,000 Indian sailors work on ships across the world. The latest advisory aims to protect Indian crew members working in one of the world's busiest and most sensitive shipping routes.

In its order dated July 15, 2026, the DGMA instructed shipping companies, vessel managers and recruitment agencies to stop assigning Indian seafarers to ships that plan to sail through the Strait of Hormuz. The order will remain in force until further instructions from the authorities.

The notice stated, “Companies are directed to avoid deploying Indian seafarers on vessels undertaking voyages involving passage through the Strait of Hormuz until further orders.”

The maritime regulator said recent attacks on commercial ships have sharply increased the danger for crews operating in the conflict-hit region. It stressed the need to take additional safety measures to protect Indian nationals working at sea.

The order further stated, "In view of the heightened security situation in the Persian Gulf region ... the Directorate considers it necessary to adopt enhanced precautionary measures to safeguard the interests of Indian seafarers serving on board ships operating in the region."

Apart from restricting fresh deployment, the DGMA also directed the masters of ships already operating in the area to stay alert. It asked them to closely monitor the security situation in the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and nearby waters. The regulator also advised them to follow navigational warnings and security updates during their voyages.

The notice added, “DGMA continues to closely monitor the evolving security situation and remains committed to safeguarding the safety, security and welfare of Indian seafarers.”

The advisory came after two Indian nationals lost their lives in separate attacks on vessels travelling through the Strait of Hormuz. The incidents have raised fresh concerns over the safety of commercial shipping in the region.

One of the victims was 31-year-old Rohan Kumar from Bihar's Gopalganj district. Officials said he died during missile attacks on two Emirati oil tankers, MT Mombasa and MT Al Bahiyah, while they were passing through the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday.

District Magistrate Sameer Saurabh confirmed Kumar's death earlier while speaking to Hindustan Times. He said, “An official has especially been sent to the deceased’s family to initiate the paperwork to repatriate the body.”

The second victim was 30-year-old Herambh Karmarkar from Pune. He had gone missing after an attack on the cargo vessel MV GFS Galaxy off the coast of Oman. Authorities later confirmed that he had died in the incident.

The Indian Consulate in Dubai announced his death through a post on X. The mission said, "We express our deepest condolences at the tragic demise of an Indian national due to an attack on the commercial vessel MV GFS Galaxy on 12 July 2026."

The deaths of the two Indian seafarers have raised concerns over growing security risks in the region. Commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz have faced repeated threats in recent days as tensions continue to escalate.

On Tuesday, the Ministry of External Affairs summoned Iranian Deputy Chief of Mission Mohammad Javad Hosseini. During the meeting, Anand Prakash, the Joint Secretary handling the Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran division, lodged a strong protest over the incident.

The government continues to monitor the situation closely. The DGMA's latest order reflects India's effort to reduce risks for its seafarers while the security situation in the Persian Gulf remains uncertain. The advisory will stay in effect until authorities issue fresh instructions.