Safety Concerns Rise as Indian Tanker Navigates Strait of Hormuz Amid Tensions
Indian Tanker Successfully Crosses Strategic Waterway
New Delhi: An Indian-flagged crude oil tanker has successfully navigated the Strait of Hormuz, despite two other vessels being compelled to retreat after coming under fire. This incident has raised alarms in New Delhi regarding the safety of merchant shipping in the region.
The tanker, named Desh Garima, which carries a crew of 31 Indian sailors, made its passage through the vital waterway on April 18 and is anticipated to arrive in Mumbai by April 22, as per the latest government updates concerning developments in West Asia.
This vessel marks the tenth Indian-flagged ship to traverse the strait since early March.
In contrast, the very large crude carrier Samnar Herad and the bulk carrier Jag Arnav reported being fired upon while attempting to cross the strait within the last 24 hours, leading them to return to the Persian Gulf.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported among the crew members of these vessels.
MarineTraffic data indicated that oil tankers Desh Vaibhav and Desh Vibhor also altered their routes near this critical chokepoint, bringing the total number of Indian-flagged ships in the Persian Gulf to 14.
In response to these incidents, India's foreign secretary summoned the Iranian ambassador in New Delhi to express 'deep concern' regarding the situation and emphasized the necessity of ensuring the safety of merchant vessels and their crews.
He urged Tehran to communicate India's stance to its authorities and to expedite the facilitation of India-bound ships through the strait.
During the meeting, the Foreign Secretary reiterated India's serious concerns about the shooting incident involving two Indian-flagged vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, highlighting the importance of maritime safety.
The situation is being closely monitored in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs and relevant stakeholders, with assurances that all Indian seafarers are safe.
The Shipping Corporation of India owns Desh Vaibhav and Desh Vibhor, while Sanmar Herald is operated by Sanmar Shipping and Jag Arnav by Great Eastern Shipping Company.
According to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, a tanker was reportedly approached by two Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps gunboats and fired upon approximately 20 nautical miles northeast of Oman, which may have led to the Indian vessels turning back.
Shipping monitor TankerTrackers.com reported that two Indian-flagged ships, including a supertanker carrying Iraqi crude, were forced to retreat after coming under fire.
These disruptions occur as numerous commercial vessels and thousands of seafarers remain stranded in the Persian Gulf since the onset of the West Asia conflict on February 28, significantly hampering movement through the Strait of Hormuz.
The Strait of Hormuz is crucial, handling about 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas traffic, making it one of the world's most vital energy routes. Iran's capability to disrupt traffic in this narrow passage has become a significant factor in the ongoing conflict.
The halt in maritime transit has led to increased energy prices, supply shortages in various regions, and forced some nations to ration fuel, highlighting the global ramifications of the standoff.