562 Indian Sailors Remain Stranded In Strait Of Hormuz As Regional Crisis Enters 107th Day

More than 562 Indian sailors have been stranded for 107 days aboard 13 Indian-flagged vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman, according to shipping and official updates, as regional tensions continue to disrupt normal maritime movement in the area.

The situation has persisted since the onset of hostilities between the United States and Iran on February 28, leaving vessels unable to proceed as normal through one of the world’s most sensitive shipping corridors.

Of the total crew, 329 sailors are stranded west of the Strait of Hormuz, while 233 are located in the Gulf of Oman. The sailors have remained on board their vessels throughout the period, facing prolonged uncertainty at sea.

An Indian national, Nishant Urthanathan, who was serving aboard the MT Celestial, died after falling ill while the vessel remained stranded. The ship is currently at the Port of Duqm.

The Indian Embassy in Muscat said it is in continuous contact with the family of the deceased, the ship’s crew, and relevant authorities. It added that efforts are underway to repatriate the mortal remains to India as soon as possible.

The embassy is also coordinating with the vessel’s management company and other stakeholders to complete necessary arrangements for repatriation.

In a separate incident, another Indian-flagged vessel, Virat 1, reported an engine failure off the coast of Oman. The vessel had 14 Indian crew members on board.

According to reports, the crew moved onto life rafts after the failure. Search and rescue operations are currently underway in coordination with Omani authorities and nearby vessels.

The situation involves 13 Indian-flagged ships carrying 562 sailors that remain stranded across the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman region since late February.

Maritime and diplomatic efforts remain ongoing to manage crew welfare, resolve individual vessel incidents, and coordinate rescue and repatriation operations. The situation has not yet been resolved.

References: ndtv