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[Hormuz Conflict Claims Seafarer Lives; India's Emergency Ban Cuts Off Global Shipping Manpower] ⑴ Late Wednesday night, India ordered shipowners, ship management companies, and recruitment agencies to refrain from deploying Indian seafarers to vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The ban will remain in effect until further notice. ⑵ India is the world's third-largest supplier of seafarers, with over 300,000 sailors serving in global fleets. This ban directly impacts the international shipping manpower market, as the risk of conflict in the Middle East is spilling over from physical assets to human capital. ⑶ Two Indian seafarers have been killed in attacks in the region in the past three days, and several others have died earlier. Shipping regulators say recent attacks have significantly increased the risks faced by seafarers and merchant ships. ⑷ Given the continued deterioration of the security situation in the Persian Gulf, authorities believe it is necessary to strengthen preventative measures to protect the interests of Indian seafarers, while requiring captains to remain fully vigilant about navigational safety and continuously monitor navigational warnings. ⑸ New Delhi has summoned the Iranian deputy ambassador to lodge a strong protest over one of the deaths. The parallel diplomatic pressure and administrative ban indicate that the situation has escalated to a bilateral level. (6) The Indian Seamen's Union stated that over 15,000 Indian seamen remain stranded west of the Strait of Hormuz, questioning the government's plans to rescue these sailors trapped in deadly waters and whose lives are threatened. (7) The dual predicament of being unable to rotate new crew members and evacuate existing ones is exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. If the situation continues to deteriorate, the global shipping industry will face the risk of a labor supply disruption, and freight rates and supply chain disruptions may escalate further.