The Aryavarth Express New Delhi : India’s Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways on Wednesday confirmed that no incidents involving Indian ships or seafarers have been reported in the past 24 hours. Officials stated that 20 Indian-flagged vessels, carrying around 540 Indian crew members, are currently operating in the Persian Gulf and all remain safe. Private shipping companies are maintaining continuous contact with these vessels.
At a joint inter-ministerial briefing, Special Secretary Rajesh Kumar Sinha said authorities have been actively responding to concerns, handling nearly 200 phone calls and 500 emails over the last day. He also noted that 50 Indian seafarers have been successfully repatriated to India during this period.
Port operations across the country continue without disruption, with no congestion reported. Alongside earlier measures at major ports such as Jawaharlal Nehru Port, Kandla, Visakhapatnam, and Chidambaranar, new steps have been introduced at non-major ports to support trade.
At Mundra Port, authorities have extended free storage for Middle East-bound export containers to 15 days, reduced refrigerated container plug-in charges by 80 percent, and waived lift-on, lift-off, and transportation fees. An additional 15-day free storage has also been granted for back-to-town containers.
The ministry emphasized that it is closely monitoring shipping activity, port operations, and the safety of seafarers, while ensuring that maritime trade continues smoothly.
