Indian-flagged vessels stranded in Persian Gulf asked to transit only if instructed to ensure safety

Larak Island is an important strategic, military and logistical hub for Iran’s oil infrastructure in the Strait of Hormuz, and is an important oil export terminal and monitoring center. All ships heading to India are asked to stay away from Larak Island as it is heavily guarded and controlled by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which has fortified the island with a network of bunkers, advanced radar systems and electronic warfare capabilities to monitor passing ships. Larak has a military base capable of deploying fast attack craft equipped with anti-ship missiles, posing a significant threat to cargo ships near the Hormuz choke point.Currently, India has deployed six warships near the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman to provide protection and escort for cargo ships heading to India. The warship deployment is part of the ongoing Operation Sankalp, which aims to protect energy tankers heading to India.Satellite images from Vortexa show that a total of eight India-bound tankers carrying a total of 13.13 million barrels of Gulf crude, three tankers carrying a total of 115,600 tons of LNG, four tankers carrying a total of 297,000 tons of LNG, and several other chemical tankers are trapped in the area. The Navy is in constant contact with the cargo ships and has advised them to move only with permission, sources said.The MEA said India is in touch with Iran and other relevant countries to ensure safe passage of its ships through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has assured that India’s concerns will be conveyed to the authorities in Tehran and diplomatic engagement will continue.On Saturday, the VLCC supertanker Sanmar Herald and bulk carrier Jag Arnav, carrying 2 million barrels of Iraqi crude from Basra Anchorage, turned around near the southern entrance to the Strait of Hormuz (south of Larak Island) and returned westward to the Persian Gulf after being fired upon by Iran’s Saipa (IRGC) navy. Authorities confirmed that despite the shooting, there were no reports of injuries to the Indian crew.Ten Indian ships have safely passed through the Strait of Hormuz, a government official said. The last tanker, Desh Garima, crossed the channel on April 18, the same day Jag Arnav and Sanmar Herald had to turn back after firing. After crossing the strait, Desh Garima is now represented by indian navy Located in the Arabian Sea, it is expected to arrive in Mumbai on April 22.