DGS Circular No.08 of 2026 - Advisory to Indian Flag Vessels and Indian Seafarers regarding escalation of Security Situation in Iran, Strait of Hormuz, Persian Gulf and Adjacent Waters – reg..

भारत सरकार/ GOVERNMENT OF INDIA प(न,पोत प+रवहन और जलमाग3 मं5ालय MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS नौवहन महािनदेशालय, मुंबई DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF SHIPPING, MUMBAI F. No. File No: 28-11/3/2023-MSB Date -28.02.2026 DGS Circular No. 08 of 2026 Sub.: Advisory to Indian Flag Vessels and Indian Seafarers regarding escalation of Security Situation in Iran, Strait of Hormuz, Persian Gulf and Adjacent Waters – reg.

For the attention of Ship Owners, Ship Managers, Shipping Agents, RPSL Agents, Ship Masters, Seafarers, Charterers, Recognised Organisation & Recognised Security Organisation, Coastal Indian States including Administrations of Union territories and State Maritime Boards.

1. The Directorate has been closely monitoring the recent escalation of hostilities and security developments in and around Iran, the Strait of Hormuz, the Persian Gulf and adjoining region following recent attacks and the consequent rise in regional tensions.

2. All vessels operating in or near the region are urged to conduct comprehensive ship shore security drills encompassing all pertinent security scenarios, including loitering munitions, USV and similar threats. Additionally, Ship Security Alert System (SSAS) testing may be undertaken before transiting through the regions above. These proactive measures are essential for ensuring the preparedness of the crew and the operational readiness of security systems on board.

3. Ship owners, operators and charterers shall undertake a comprehensive voyage specific risk assessment prior to planning any transit through the above region.

4. All vessels transiting or operating in the wider region shall strictly comply with the reporting and communication protocol prescribed in DGS Circular No. 08 of 2024 dated 10.04.2024. The said Circular mandates daily reporting through the online Ship Reporting Form and prescribes detailed communication procedures with DGComm Centre, IFC-IOR, Indian Navy and other relevant agencies in the event of any maritime security incident (copy enclosed).

Page 1 of 25. In the event that a vessel is already operating within the region or currently under transit at the time of issuance of this Circular, the following measures shall be ensured:-

5.1. The Master or Company Security Officer shall immediately ensure updated reporting in accordance with DGS Circular No. 08 of 2024.

5.2. In addition, the Company Security Officer shall email the DGComm Centre with full particulars of the vessel and crew list.

5.3. Enhanced security posture shall be maintained throughout the transit.

5.4. Continuous monitoring of navigational warnings and maritime security advisories issued by DGComm Centre, IFC-IOR and other competent authorities shall be ensured.

5.5. Ship Security Plans shall be reviewed and implemented in full.

5.6. Ship Security Alert System testing shall be undertaken prior to entering the High Risk Area.

5.7. Crew shall be briefed regarding emergency response procedures, including contingency measures in case of missile, drone, sea mines or asymmetric threa ts.

6. Masters and Company Security Officers are directed to immediately report any suspicious activity, security threat, interception, electronic interference, GNSS disruption, hostile approach, or incident of any nature to the DGComm Centre at the earliest opportunity.

7. Important Contact Numbers Following centres are manned 24x7:- Ø DGComm Centre (dgcommcentre-dgs@nic.in) Whatsapp, i.e., +91 8657549760. (Alternative numbers: +91 22 22613606 / +91 8657549760 / +91 8657549752).

Ø IFC_IOR (ifc-ior.gurugram@navy.gov.in) Whatsapp, i.e., +91 7428963733. (Alternative number: Landline: +91-124-2208385)

8. All stakeholders are advised to maintain a proactive stance towards security, constantly enhancing their preparedness to face evolving maritime security challenges through regular reviews and training. Accordingly, collective vigilance and adherence to the security SOPs/advisories are crucial for mitigating these varied and significant threats.

This is issued with the approval of the Director General of Shipping. (Capt. Anish Joseph) Deputy Nautical Adviser - cum - Sr. Dy. Director General [Tech / Maritime Security] anish-dgs@gov.in Note - The underlined blue content in the circular indicates hyperlinks to the relevant online content on the respective website.

Page 2 of 2भारत सरकार/ GOVERNMENT OF INDIA पत्तन,पोत पररवहन और जलमार्ग मंत्रालय MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS नौवहन महाननदेशालय, म ंबई DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF SHIPPING, MUMBAI F. No. File No: 28-11/3/2023-MSB Date -10.04.2024 DGS Circular No. 08 of 2024 Sub.: Introduction of Online Ship Reporting for the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, Bab al Mandeb Strait, Red Sea, Somali Basin, and Arabian Sea Region - reg.

For the attention of Ship Owners, Ship Managers, Shipping Agents, RPSL Agents, Ship Masters, Seafarers, Charterers, Recognised Organisation & Recognised Security Organisation, Coastal Indian States including Administrations of Union territories and State Maritime Boards.

1. This advisory is issued in continuation to the DGS Circular No. 27 of 2023 dated

29.12.2023, and subsequent observations on maritime security in sensitive regions, including the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, Bab al Mandeb Strait, Red Sea, Somali Basin, and Arabian Sea region. There was a need to further simplify and enhance the mechanism for reporting and tracking maritime activities to safeguard the interests of merchant ships, their crew, and maritime trade flows.

2. Due to the increasing number of vessels reporting to the Information Fusion Centre- Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) and DG Comm Centre in pursuance to the aforesaid DGS

Circular, a dedicated online Ship Reporting Form has been established. This form aims to streamline the reporting process and ensure a robust database for efficient monitoring and swift response to any maritime security threat.

3. Accordingly, in the event of any incidents or security escalation due to incidents in the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman, Gulf of Aden, Bab al Mandeb Strait, Red Sea, Somali Basin, and Arabian Sea region, the reporting and communication protocol to be

maintained is as follows:

3.1. Reporting Protocol

3.1.1. All vessels transiting through the aforementioned areas are requested to submit their details daily via the online Ship Reporting Form, which can be accessed at

http://117.219.8.190/ifcior/.

Page 1 of 33.1.2. This measure is critical for maintaining a comprehensive and up-to-date vessel database, which will facilitate easier tracking and coordination at the Centre if the Indian Navy is required to respond to the incident.

3.1.3. Accordingly, there is no requirement to forward the position report specified in Annexure I of DGS Circular No. 27 of 2023 dated 29 December 2023, as the daily reporting using the online link will take care of the same.

3.2. Communication Protocol In the event of a maritime security incident, the following procedure is advised:-

3.2.1. Contact the nearest Indian Navy vessel and coalition warship using VHF Channel 16, provide the current location, describe the situation, communicate the intended course of action, and seek further guidance.

3.2.2. Inform the CSO of the vessel, who can convey the information immediately by phone/WhatsApp, preferably to the following centres, which are manned 24x7 :  DGComm Centre (dgcommcentre-dgs@nic.in) Whatsapp, i.e., +91 8657549760.

(Alternative numbers: +91 22 22613606 / +91 8657549760 / +91 8657549752).  IFC_IOR (ifc-ior.gurugram@navy.gov.in) Whatsapp, i.e., +91 7428963733. (Alternative number: Landline: +91-124-2208385)

3.2.3. Inform the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) and other applicable agencies/organisations relevant to the region and type of occurrence (such as MRCC, etc).

3.2.4. As soon as the situation allows, a first information report should be transmitted to the DGComm Centre.

4. Furthermore, all CSOs, Vessels and masters must consider the heightened security risks given the current scenario. In addition to the daily reporting through the online form, the practices and precautionary measures specified in DGS Circular No. 25 of 2023 dated

05.12.2023, DGS Circular No. 27 of 2023 dated 29.12.2023 and the SOPs/advisories/Best Management Practices therein are to be adhered with.

5. Weekly Maritime Security Updates, as available on the IFC-IOR website, must also be referred to obtain the weekly list of security incidents occurring worldwide.

Page 2 of 36. In light of the prevailing security concerns, it is advised to conduct comprehensive ship shore security drills encompassing all pertinent security scenarios, including but not limited to piracy and loitering munitions threats. Additionally, Ship Security Alert System (SSAS) testing may be undertaken before transiting through the regions above. These proactive measures are essential for ensuring the preparedness of the crew and the operational readiness of security systems on board.

7. All stakeholders are advised to maintain a proactive stance towards security, constantly enhancing their preparedness to face evolving maritime security challenges through regular reviews and training. Accordingly, collective vigilance and adherence to the security SOPs/advisories are crucial for mitigating these varied and significant threats.

8. Any incident of a suspicious nature not affecting the vessel may also be, therefore, reported to the DGComm Centre (dgcommcentre-dgs@nic.in) with a copy to IFC-IOR (ifc- ior.gurugram@navy.gov.in).

This is issued with the approval of the Director General of Shipping. (Capt. Anish Joseph) Deputy Nautical Adviser - cum - Sr. Dy. Director General [Tech / Maritime Security] anish-dgs@gov.in Note - The underlined blue content in the circular indicates hyperlinks to the relevant online content on the respective website.

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