New Delhi, July 15 -- The Centre has launched a comprehensive "Seafarer-First" response to protect Indian crew members operating in conflict-hit waters of West Asia, directing the creation of a real-time operational dashboard to track every Indian seafarer aboard vessels in the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman, irrespective of the ship's flag.

The move comes amid an escalating maritime security crisis following attacks on two merchant vessels in the Strait of Hormuz that left one Indian seafarer dead and several others injured.

Chairing a high-level inter-ministerial review meeting, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal directed the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) to establish a vessel-...