India Maintains Strategic Ship Movement Through Strait of Hormuz Amid Continuing US-Iran Conflict

Several ships carrying essential cargo, including crude oil, liquefied petroleum gas, chemicals, and other strategic resources, have successfully reached India through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route that remains largely restricted for vessel movement even after the temporary ceasefire announced on April 9.

The ceasefire halted active military operations between Iran and the United States, but the strategic waterway has not fully reopened. The Strait of Hormuz, which normally facilitates nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, continues to remain under severe pressure amid fears that prolonged disruptions could trigger fresh strain on the global economy as pre-war energy reserves continue to decline.

Iran continues to hold a dominant strategic position over the narrow maritime corridor due to its geographical advantage and has previously targeted several vessels as part of its warnings to the United States and Israel during the conflict.

Amid these developments, India has maintained steady maritime traffic through the volatile waterway with coordinated diplomatic and administrative efforts involving multiple ministries and international channels.

Addressing questions during a routine press briefing on Friday regarding coordination between India, Iran, and other stakeholders for safe vessel movement, Opesh Kumar Sharma, Director of Shipping at the Ministry of Ports, provided details of the ongoing efforts while withholding sensitive operational information for security reasons.

“In terms of how we coordinate with India, Iran, and how we decide the priority, I would not like to disclose those details for obvious reasons. We coordinate through the Ministry of External Affairs, and that is where we are,” Sharma said during the inter-ministerial briefing.

He further stated that shipping priorities are determined in coordination with the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and the Ministry of Fertilizers. According to Sharma, the ministries collectively prepare priority lists to facilitate the safe movement of ships through the high-risk maritime stretch.

Sharma informed that there are currently around 13 Indian-flagged vessels operating in the Strait of Hormuz. These include one liquefied petroleum gas tanker, five crude oil tankers, one chemical or product tanker, three container ships, two bulk carriers, and one dredger.

He also addressed concerns regarding publicly accessible ship-tracking data. Referring to commercial vessel tracking platforms, Sharma stated that such applications are subscription-based and available publicly.

“With respect to ship data trackers, these are commercial applications. People can take subscriptions and the information is open to all,” he said.

When asked whether the availability of ship-tracking information in the public domain could compromise vessel movement, Sharma responded that the impact depends on the intentions of those accessing the information.

“Any data available in the public domain can be used either way by any person. It depends on the intention. But as of now, the data is helping us and also helping others track the ships,” he said.

The movement of commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz was severely disrupted following Iranian retaliation against the US-Israeli strikes on Iran conducted on February 28, which escalated into a full-scale conflict involving both sides.

Despite the volatile situation, several Indian-linked vessels have successfully transited through the strategic chokepoint located between Iran and Oman since February 28. These vessels include Shivalik, Nanda Devi, Jag Laadki, Pine Gas, Jag Vasant, BW Tyr, BW Elm, and Green Sanvi.

India remains among the countries with the highest number of vessels navigating through the Strait of Hormuz, underlining the nation’s heavy dependence on the corridor for energy imports and maritime trade. The continued movement of Indian ships through the conflict-sensitive waterway reflects the significance of diplomatic coordination, strategic maritime management, and uninterrupted supply chain operations during a period of global uncertainty.