The Indian government has put the country’s Navy on high alert to swiftly address distress signals from vessels, whether they fly the Indian flag or belong to foreign carriers, navigating through the turbulent Persian Gulf area. This action follows heightened tensions sparked by Iran's missile strike against Israel last Saturday.

The Indian shipping ministry has reached out to the Indian Navy to collaborate on initiatives aimed at rescuing ships facing distress and addressing security challenges along vital shipping routes in sensitive areas. These sensitive areas include the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf of Oman, the Gulf of Aden, the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea, the Somali Basin, and the Arabian Sea region.

“We have established a series of protocols that have to be followed in case of ship movement in sensitive regions. These are being followed with quick response available from the Navy if the situation warrants," said Capt. Anis Joseph, deputy nautical adviser and senior deputy director general (technical/maritime security), Directorate General of Shipping.

“The systems have been established ever since the beginning of the Red Sea crisis and have only been reiterated again now in the wake of recent incidents. We don’t see the current situation having a major impact on the movement of ships and Indian crew through the region," he said.

In a previous notice, the Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping) had implemented an online ship reporting system for all vessels operating in the area. In its latest circular, the authority has refined the reporting procedure to guarantee the maintenance of a strong database, facilitating effective monitoring and prompt reaction to any maritime security concerns.

Ships have been instructed to reach out to the closest Indian Navy vessel via the designated communication channel in the event of any incident. They are required to provide their location, detail the situation, convey their planned course of action, and request additional guidance.

The advisory also advises that ships notify the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations and other relevant agencies, including organizations relevant to the region and the type of incident. Once conditions permit, a first information report should be promptly conveyed to the DG Communication Centre, as stated in the circular issued by the shipping ministry.

The circular also emphasised that due to the existing security risks, all vessels are encouraged to conduct thorough ship-shore security drills covering all relevant security situations, such as piracy and potential threats from loitering munitions. Moreover, the advisory suggests testing the Ship Security Alert System (SSAS) before navigating through the aforementioned regions.

“All stakeholders are advised to maintain a proactive stance towards security, constantly enhancing their preparedness to face evolving maritime security challenges through regular reviews and training. Accordingly, collective vigilance and adherence to the security SOPs/advisories are crucial for mitigating these varied and significant threats," DG Shipping said in its circular.

“We are among the very few maritime systems that have evolved a complete system to deal with any eventuality affecting movement of ships to and from the country. The present developments are being observed and standard operating procedures (SOP) in place should be able to handle any evolving issues," Joseph said.

The procedure to ensure uninterrupted movement of shipping may come with its own share of challenges as increasing cost of operations raises overall freight rates. 

The heightened security protocols and extended vessel run times are likely to drive up costs, potentially leading to further increases in already elevated freight rates. The ongoing crisis has already pushed rates up by over 50% this April compared to the same period last year. Moreover, insurance costs are also set to start pinching the shipping companies soon if the present crisis escalates.

Image source: PTI