India has barred its seafarers from transiting the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments, as escalating Middle East conflicts claim Indian lives at sea. The directive, issued by the Directorate General of Shipping, freezes new deployments through the waterway until further notice. Main Developments The ban, announced Wednesday, applies to shipowners, ship managers, and recruitment agencies. It follows the deaths of two Indian seafarers in attacks on vessels in the region over the past three days, with additional fatalities recorded previously, according to government data. India ranks as the world's third-largest supplier of seafarers, with over 300,000 sailors employed globally. The order also requires vessel masters to maintain heightened vigilance and continuously monitor navigational warnings in the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and adjoining waters. Read also: Why India's Chariot Festival Crush Reflects a Deeper Safety Crisis Background New Delhi has summoned Iran's deputy ambassador to lodge a strong protest over one of Tuesday's deaths. The shipping regulator cited a "significantly" increased risk to seafarers and commercial ships operating in the conflict-affected area, prompting the precautionary measures. More than 15,000 Indian seafarers remain stranded west of the Strait of Hormuz, according to Manoj Yadav, general secretary of the Forward Seamen's Union of India. Three Indian crew members are still missing after an attack on a tanker off Oman's coast, the government confirmed. Why It Matters The ban disrupts a vital labor pipeline for the global shipping industry, which relies heavily on Indian crews. With thousands already trapped in a high-risk zone, the order exposes a gap between stopping new deployments and extracting those already in harm's way. What's Next India's directive remains in effect "until further orders," leaving open the question of when—or if—deployments will resume. The government faces mounting pressure to evacuate stranded seafarers, while diplomatic channels with Iran remain active following the protest.