India Prioritises Moving 13 Ships Out Of Strait Of Hormuz As Gulf Security Risks Persist

India has launched a priority operation to move 13 Indian-flagged commercial vessels out of the Strait of Hormuz as tensions continue across the Gulf region.

The move is part of a coordinated effort involving the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Indian missions and maritime stakeholders to protect Indian seafarers and commercial shipping interests.

The MEA has also advised Indian nationals to avoid travelling to Iran and urged those already there to leave with embassy assistance.

Speaking on Friday, Opesh Kumar Sharma, Director at the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, said authorities have prepared a coordinated plan to help Indian vessels currently operating in the strategically important waterway.

According to Sharma, there are about 13 Indian-flagged vessels in the area, including one LPG tanker, five crude oil tankers, one chemical or product tanker, three container ships, two bulk carriers and one dredger.

“Our priority is to get our ships out that are currently inside,” he said.

Sharma also confirmed that Nissos Keros, a Marshall Islands-flagged crude oil tanker carrying about 270,000 metric tonnes of crude oil, safely transited the Strait of Hormuz during the night of May 25-26.

The vessel is expected to arrive at Visakhapatnam on June 3 and is crewed entirely by foreign nationals.

He said all Indian seafarers in the region remain safe and that no incident involving Indian crew members on either Indian-flagged or foreign-flagged merchant vessels has been reported.

The Directorate General of Shipping’s emergency control room has handled more than 10,800 calls and over 24,098 emails since it was activated.

During the past 96 hours alone, it received around 500 calls and 1,332 emails from seafarers, their families and maritime stakeholders.

According to Sharma, the government has facilitated the safe repatriation of more than 3,422 Indian seafarers from various locations across the Gulf region, including 47 during the last 96 hours.

He added that port operations across India remain normal and no congestion has been reported.

References: ANI News, TOI