Indian Vessel Transits Strait of Hormuz Amid Heightened Tensions with IRGC Fire Warning

Strait of Hormuz Disruptions Continue: One Indian Tanker Crosses While Others Turn Back

The Strait of Hormuz remains a focal point of tension in the region, with at least 13 Indian-flagged vessels, including oil tankers and a bulk carrier, either turning back or being forced to do so after Iran signalled the strategic waterway was closed. However, one Indian-flagged oil tanker, Desh Garima, successfully crossed the Strait on Saturday, according to ship tracking data.

Desh Garima, owned by the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI), is the 10th India-flagged vessel to have crossed the Strait since early March. As of Saturday evening, the tanker was sailing in the Gulf of Oman, according to ship tracking data from maritime data and intelligence platform MarineTraffic.

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The disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz come as scores of commercial vessels and thousands of seafarers remain stranded in the Persian Gulf since the outbreak of the West Asia war on February 28. The war has sharply curtailed movement through the Strait, which handles about a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas flows, making it one of the world's most critical energy arteries.

The halt in transit has driven up energy prices, triggered supply shortages in parts of the world and forced some countries to ration fuel, underscoring the global impact of the standoff. In response to the reported targeting of Indian vessels, the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi summoned the Iranian envoy to lodge a protest.

According to shipping monitor TankerTrackers.com, two India-flagged ships, including a supertanker carrying Iraqi crude, were forced to turn back after coming under fire. The disruptions come as Iran's ability to disrupt traffic through the narrow passage has emerged as a key lever in the conflict.