New Delhi, April 4 (IANS) Seventeen Indian-flagged vessels, carrying around 460 Indian seafarers, continue to operate in the western Persian Gulf region, the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas said on Saturday.

The government also said that necessary measures are in place to ensure their safety amid evolving maritime conditions.

According to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, it is closely monitoring shipping movements, port operations and the safety of Indian seafarers, while ensuring uninterrupted maritime trade.

According to the ministry, all Indian seafarers in the region are safe, and no incident involving Indian-flagged vessels has been reported in the past 24 hours.

It also informed that the LPG vessel Green Sanvi has safely transited the Strait of Hormuz, carrying 46,650 metric tonnes of LPG cargo with 25 seafarers on board.

A total of 17 Indian-flagged vessels remain in the western Persian Gulf region, and the Directorate General of Shipping, in coordination with ship owners, RPSL agencies and Indian Missions, is actively monitoring the situation.

The DG Shipping Control Room remains operational round the clock and has handled 5,015 calls and 10,425 emails since its activation. In the past 24 hours alone, it received 31 calls and 129 emails.

The Directorate has also facilitated the safe repatriation of more than 1,320 Indian seafarers so far, including 190 in the last 24 hours from airports and various regional locations across the Gulf, according to the government.

Port operations across India continue to remain normal, with no congestion reported. State Maritime Boards of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry have confirmed smooth functioning.

The ministry further added that it is coordinating with the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian Missions and other maritime stakeholders to ensure seafarer welfare and the continuity of maritime operations.

–IANS

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