New Delhi : The Government of India has repatriated 4,048 Indian seafarers from the Gulf region following the West Asia crisis, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said on Saturday.
Speaking at a stakeholder discussion on “Seafarer Security, Safety and Welfare”, Sonowal said the government remains committed to ensuring the safety and welfare of every Indian seafarer working on ships across the world.
“Our main objective is to ensure the safety of each and every Indian seafarer deployed on ships globally. We have so far repatriated more than 4,048 seafarers.”
The minister added that the government has also extended assistance to the families of seafarers affected by the crisis.
Over 16,000 Calls and 40,000 Communications Handled
According to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, the Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DGMA) monitored more than 16,000 calls and handled over 40,000 communications during the repatriation efforts.
The safe return of more than 4,000 stranded seafarers was coordinated through joint efforts involving the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian missions, Indian Navy, shipowners and other maritime stakeholders.
E-Samudra Digital Platform to Go Live
The minister was speaking at an event organised to launch E-Samudra, an integrated e-governance and digital maritime services platform developed by the DGMA.
The platform is expected to go live from August 15, 2026, and will bring together maritime services for seafarers, shipping companies, ports and other stakeholders through a single digital interface.
According to the ministry, E-Samudra will provide:
- End-to-end digital workflows
- Online payments
- Real-time tracking
- Digitally issued certificates
- A single digital window for maritime services
Shipping Ministry Secretary Vijay Kumar said the objective is not merely to move existing processes online but to make maritime services predictable, transparent and time-bound.
India Now Second-Largest Supplier of Seafarers
Sonowal said India has emerged as the world’s second-largest supplier of seafarers and expressed confidence that the country would soon become the world’s largest supplier.
India’s active seafarer workforce has grown substantially, from around 1.03 lakh in 2013 to more than 3.23 lakh in 2025, highlighting the growing importance of digital services, regulation and welfare systems for maritime workers.
The minister also said India has become a leading global ship-recycling destination and is working towards becoming one of the world’s top five shipbuilding nations.
Focus on Safety, Welfare and Ease of Doing Business
Sonowal said the government’s objective is to ensure that Indian seafarers are safe, respected and supported as India strengthens its position as a global maritime power.
He described E-Samudra as more than a technology initiative, saying it would make maritime governance simpler, more transparent and stakeholder-centric.
Shyam Jagannathan, Director General of Maritime Administration, described E-Samudra as a transformational platform that will shift maritime administration from a traditional physical office-based system towards digital-first and faceless governance.
The initiative is expected to improve service delivery while strengthening the safety, welfare and regulatory support available to India’s rapidly expanding maritime workforce.
