SEAFARER SAFETY FRAMEWORK FOR EMERGING MARITIME RISKS

The Merchant Shipping Act, 2025 came into force on 15 March 2026, updating India’s maritime legal framework to align with contemporary international standards. The Act enhances statutory safeguards for abandoned seafarers, tightens regulation of recruitment and placement services, and provides a robust legal basis for implementing evolving international maritime labour norms. In response to heightened security risks in conflict‑sensitive maritime zones, the Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DGMA) issued a series of advisories and circulars (e.g., DGS Advisory 14.01.2026, Circulars 09‑31 of 2026) directing Indian seafarers and shipping stakeholders to avoid deployments to Iran, maintain vigilance in the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz, register with Indian missions, and use a newly established 24 × 7 helpline for emergency assistance. These measures were communicated by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.