India's Union Government is launching a probe into service conditions for seamen employed on Indian ships, following the death of a 26-year-old marine officer on board a SCI ship, which is also being investigated.

The officer is believed to have been at sea for 11 months without break. He is alleged to have taken his life by jumping overboard after being informed that the man due to relieve him had yet to report for duty.

A report by the Business Line said the young man was extremely homesick and had threatened to commit suicide earlier if he was not granted leave.

According to a seamen's union official, seafarers are not allowed to spend longer than seven-month stretches at sea. In the event that there is no one available to relieve the seafarer, he would work up for to two more months on request.

The problem is believed to stem from a shortage of marine officers to man ships in India.