Three Indian-flagged tankers carrying more than 860,000 metric tons of oil and 94 Indian crew members have safely transited the Strait of Hormuz and are en route to India, shipping minister Sarbananda Sonowal said on Saturday.
Sonowal posted on X that the Desh Vaibhav, Desh Vibhor and Sanmar Herald had all completed the transit. “Safe passage secured! 3 Indian-flagged crude oil tankers, Desh Vaibhav, Desh Vibhor and Sanmar Herald carrying over 8.6 Lakh MT of cargo with 94 Indian crew members have successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz today and are en route to India. Under the decisive leadership of Hon’ble PM Shri @narendramodi ji, GoI is working on highest priority to secure India’s maritime interests. Our Ministry is actively coordinating with all relevant agencies to guarantee the absolute safety of Bharat’s seafarers and energy lifelines”, the post read.
The Desh Vaibhav is expected to arrive in Vadinar on June 24 with 37 Indian seafarers on board and is carrying a cargo of 2,86,572 MT.Another vessel, Desh Vibhor, is expected at Sikka on June 24 just after Desh Vaibhav arrives. It has 27 Indians on board and is carrying 2,88,893 MT crude oil.Oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz picked up on Friday after the United States and Iran signed a ceasefire deal, with Gulf producers preparing to raise exports despite concerns over conditions set by Tehran for using the vital waterway.
Washington and Tehran released the text of an interim agreement signed on Wednesday to end the conflict, although U.S. President Donald Trump warned he could resume attacks and target Iranian officials if commitments are not honoured.Prior to the transit of three cargoes, 13 Indian flagged cargoes were stranded in the Strait of Hormuz
"Our Ministry is actively coordinating with all relevant agencies to guarantee the absolute safety of Bharat's seafarers and energy lifelines," Sonowal added.
At the time of the tenuous US-Iran agreement to put an end to hostilities and go into negotiations signed days ago — which is again seeming in jeopardy because of Israel’s attack on Lebanon — 13 India-flagged ships were stranded in the Strait of Hormuz.Days before the US and Iran signed the agreement, three Indian seafarers on a Palau-flagged ship were killed in US missile strikes while trying to transit through the Strait.
The three seafarers were identified by the government as Suresh Patnala, chief engineer; Shivanand Chorasiya, fitter; and Aditya Sharms, cadet. This led to much domestic outcry and Prime Minister Narendra Modi broached the issue of safety of seafarers in his meeting with US President Donald Trump during the recent G7 Summit. The opposition has been critical of the PM for not taking a tough line on the issue through a public statement condemning it.
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