NEW DELHI, June 11 (Xinhua) -- India's shipping ministry Thursday said 13 Indian-flagged vessels are currently stranded in the Strait of Hormuz.
The details were revealed by a senior shipping ministry official, Mukesh Mangal, during a press briefing in New Delhi.
According to Mangal, 562 Indian seafarers are currently on Indian-flagged vessels, including 329 in the Persian Gulf region, west of Hormuz, and 233 in the Gulf of Oman, east of Hormuz.
"There are more than 18,000 Indian seafarers in total in the whole Gulf region," he said, adding that 13 Indian-flagged vessels are stranded in the Strait of Hormuz.
Officials said the government was maintaining regular communication with ship owners, operators and relevant maritime agencies to ensure the safety of Indian crew members and vessels operating in the region. ■
