Update on Shipping in the Strait of Hormuz Amid West Asia Conflict
As of Tuesday, a total of 50 ships—both Indian and foreign—have successfully passed through the Strait of Hormuz since the recent conflict in West Asia began on February 28. Currently, there are nine Indian vessels in the Persian Gulf, specifically to the west of the Strait, carrying 198 Indian crew members.
A shipping ministry official mentioned that these vessels are operational and not in distress. However, there hasn’t been any news about Indian ships waiting to travel to West Asia for new cargo. Industry experts note that it may take some time for shipping companies to resume services to the region.
Out of the ships that have navigated the strait, 18 are registered under Indian flags while the remaining 32 are foreign-flagged. Among these vessels, 19 are bulk carriers, 14 are transporting liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and 12 are crude oil tankers. Additionally, there are two liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers and one container ship.
In other news, Kamarajar Port in Tamil Nadu has reached a significant milestone by achieving an operational draft of 18 meters. This makes it the second major port managed by the central government, following Visakhapatnam, to hit this target. Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal remarked that this achievement is vital for enhancing India’s maritime infrastructure and boosting the country’s economic growth and trade on a global scale.
