The ongoing tension between the US and Iran has effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil routes. This narrow sea route between Tehran and Oman carries about 20 percent of the global oil and natural gas supply. Due to its disruption, the fuel crisis has deepened in many countries of the world. In which India is also included. However, despite the tension, as per India’s strategy, Indian ships are still passing through the Strait of Hormuz without any hindrance.
Despite the tense situation, India has succeeded in maintaining its energy supply through this important sea route.
Many ships associated with Indian interests are continuously passing through the Strait of Hormuz, due to which the supply of oil and gas needs of the country is not affected.
Coordination through Ministry of External Affairs
Shipping ministry officials at a briefing on inter-ministerial coordination on Friday highlighted how India is managing the movement of ships through the strained waterway, although officials did not disclose operational details. Director of the Ministry of Shipping and Waterways, Opesh Kumar Sharma said that constant coordination is being done between several ministries to decide the movement and priority. He said that we coordinate through the Ministry of External Affairs.
Priority of ships is decided
Sharma said that the priority of ships is decided in collaboration with key ministries related to energy and essential supplies. He said the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways continues to coordinate with the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian Embassies and maritime stakeholders to ensure the welfare of seafarers and uninterrupted maritime operations. He said that in terms of priority, it is decided in coordination with the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MOPNG) and the Ministry of Fertilizers, and then coordinated priorities are prepared through which efforts are made to sail the ships.
13 Indian flag ships present in Hormuz
According to Sharma, currently about 13 Indian flag ships are present in the Strait of Hormuz area. These include one LPG tanker, five crude oil tankers, one chemical or product tanker, three container ships, two bulk carriers and one dredger. He said that under the Movement of Ships, Marshall Islands-flagged merchant vessel Nisos Keros, a crude oil tanker, safely passed through the Strait of Hormuz on the night of May 25-26 and is scheduled to reach Visakhapatnam on June 3, 2026.
All Indian sailors safe
He told that this merchant vessel is transporting about 270,000 metric tons of crude oil. He said all Indian seafarers are safe in the area and no incidents have been reported involving Indian seafarers on Indian-flagged or foreign-flagged merchant vessels. He said that the control room set up in the Directorate General of Shipping has handled more than 10,800 calls and more than 24,098 cases. He said that in the last 96 hours, a total of 500 calls and 1,332 emails have been received from seafarers, their families and stakeholders related to the maritime sector.
More than 3,422 Indian sailors have returned so far
Opesh Kumar Sharma said that till now the safe return of more than 3,422 Indian sailors has been ensured, including 47 sailors from various places in the Gulf region in the last 96 hours. He said port operations across India remain normal and no congestion has been reported. Indian ships that have transited the waterway since February 28 include Shivalik, Nanda Devi, Jag Ladki, Pine Gas, Jag Vasant, BW Tyre, BW Elm and Green Saanvi.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has declined since Iran retaliated against the US-Israeli attacks on February 28. Many global shipping operators are avoiding this route altogether for fear of increasing tensions.
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