Thirty-seven Indian-flagged vessels carrying 1,109 seafarers remain stranded in the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, and nearby waters after Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz amid retaliatory strikes against US-Israel targets.
Shipping Crisis Details
The ships include crude oil and LNG tankers bound for India and vessels loading petroleum products from Gulf ports, halted by IRGC VHF warnings declaring “no ship is allowed to pass.” Three Indian seafarers died and one was injured on foreign-flagged ships in related attacks, prompting advisories for utmost caution.
Directorate General of Shipping monitors via constant contact with operators, while Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal’s quick response team aids families.
Government Coordination
MEA’s 24/7 control room (1800118797) links with Navy, IFC-IOR, and missions in Tehran, UAE, Qatar to secure mariners alongside 1 crore expatriates. This maritime bottleneck compounds 1,609 flight cancellations, now easing with 58 services today.
Russia’s full energy backup and 25-day reserves mitigate fuel risks as Putin pushes Gulf de-escalation.
Strategic Fallout
Hormuz closure slashes Gulf oil flows by 86%, spiking war-risk premiums and idling 700 tankers globally, though India’s diversification cushions immediate shocks. Navy patrols and voyage risk assessments protect assets amid missile/drone threats.
