New Delhi: The Centre on Tuesday informed Parliament that 59 India–bound ships have safely transited the Strait of Hormuz since the US-Iran conflict began in March, even as six Indian-flagged vessels remain stranded on the western side of the strategic narrow waterway.
In a written reply to a question by Congress MP Rajeev Shukla in the Rajya Sabha, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal said that, as of 17 July, 23 Indian-flagged vessels and 36 foreign-flagged vessels carrying cargo for India had safely crossed the Strait of Hormuz.
The government, however, said six Indian-flagged vessels continue to remain on the western side of the strait. Of these, two are container vessels, while four are engaged in trade within the Gulf region and do not currently need to exit, the reply said.
The ministry did not provide any information on the cargo being carried by these vessels.
Sonowal said the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) has been working closely with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), the Indian Navy and the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to facilitate the movement of Indian vessels.
“The MoPSW has maintained regular coordination with other Ministries/organizations such as MEA, MoPNG, Department of Fisheries (DoF), Indian Navy/MoD, and other stakeholders to facilitate evacuation of vessels of Indian interest,” the minister said in the written reply.
At the start of the conflict in early March, 28 Indian-flagged vessels were stranded near the Strait of Hormuz—24 on the western side of the strait and four on the eastern side, outside the waterway.
According to the government data, ship movements remained limited during the initial months of the conflict due to security risks. Over time, diplomatic efforts enabled the gradual movement of vessels, with priority reportedly being given to ships carrying crude oil, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG).
The pace of transit picked up after the initial peace agreement between the United States and Iran on 17 June. Of the 59 India-linked vessels that have crossed the Strait of Hormuz since the conflict began, 19 transited before 17 June, while the remaining 40 crossed after the agreement, indicating a temporary easing of maritime disruptions.
However, with renewed hostilities between the US and Iran in recent weeks, the vessel movements through the Strait of Hormuz have once again come under restrictions, posing fresh challenges for shipping in one of the world’s busiest energy trade routes.
(Edited by Nivedita Patil)
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