Two India-flagged ships cross Strait of Hormuz amid US-Iran escalation
NEW DELHI: Two Indian ships transited the Strait of Hormuz this week as tensions between the United States and Iran continue to escalate, officials said.
The Lila Vadinar, carrying 2.7 lakh tonnes of Kuwaiti crude oil, crossed the strategic waterway on the night of Wednesday, 5 June. It had earlier been ordered to turn back by Iran's Sepah Navy near the tip of Oman's Musandam Peninsula, according to sources. Another Indian vessel, the Maha Roos, also passed through the strait safely.
As of Thursday evening, seven vessels bound for India—both Indian and foreign flagged, carrying 149 seafarers—were awaiting evacuation from the Persian Gulf. These include six fertiliser bulk carriers, one of which is loaded with about 45,000 tonnes of urea. The remaining ships are in the process of being loaded.
India had anticipated the evacuation of these ships within the next few days. However, with the conflict intensifying, movement through the Strait of Hormuz has once again become restricted. Officials indicated that the government may reissue fresh advisories cautioning seafarers and discouraging chartering of vessels to West Asia.
In addition, five more India-flagged ships—two bulk carriers, one crude oil tanker, one oil/chemical tanker, and one empty dredger—are operating in the Persian Gulf but are not scheduled to depart immediately, officials said.
