Three More Vessels Cross Strait of Hormuz Amid Ongoing Tensions
On Friday, three additional vessels made their way through the Strait of Hormuz, while India remains vigilant about maritime activity in the West Asia region. Currently, 16 vessels of Indian interest are still stranded in the Persian Gulf, which have been recognized for potential evacuation, as per recent shipping reports.
Since the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Iran and the USA on June 17, there have been 24 successful transits through this strategic waterway.
One notable Indian-flagged tanker, the Desh Surakasha, carrying over 105,000 metric tonnes of crude oil, successfully passed through the Strait on Friday, heading for Fujairah in the UAE. Another vessel, the Singapore-flagged Prabhu Parvati, sailed through with 18,732 metric tonnes of cargo, slated to arrive in Kandla, India, by June 29.
Additionally, the Liberian-flagged bulk carrier, Victoria, also navigated the Strait, bringing in 43,100 metric tonnes of urea to Mundra, India, with a crew of 24 Turkish members on board.
Situation of Indian-Related Vessels
In the meantime, 16 vessels with connections to India—comprising both Indian-flagged and foreign-flagged ships headed to India—remain in the Persian Gulf. This group includes one energy cargo ship, four carrying fertilizers, and 11 others of Indian interest.
The reports indicate a total of four incidents involving Indian-flagged ships, as well as 19 incidents with foreign-flagged vessels that have Indian crews. These events have resulted in seven fatalities, one presumed dead, and four injuries.
Tensions in the region have once again heightened following a recent U.S. military strike on Iran, which was a response to an earlier attack in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran retaliated shortly after, with strikes lasting nearly an hour.
Following the MoU on June 17, efforts to de-escalate tensions in the region have been put into motion. Throughout the evolving Iran-U.S. conflict, which began on February 28, India has been advocating strongly for the freedom of navigation and the uninterrupted flow of energy and trade through the Strait, a waterway that has seen restrictions imposed by Iranian authorities.
