72 hours: 9 Indian ships cross Strait of Hormuz, 15 in queue; will oil prices fall?
Despite the intense military tension in the Middle East and the recent exchange of fire between the US and Iran, cargo ships heading to India continue to move through the Strait of Hormuz. In the last 72 hours, 9 cargo vessels have safely crossed this sensitive waterway, of which 7 are carrying essential supplies for India. By Saturday, the total number of India-bound ships that have safely passed through this maritime route has risen to 44. Among the 9 ships that crossed in the last 72 hours, 4 are Indian-flagged and 5 are foreign-flagged.
In addition, 15 other ships heading to India are still in the Persian Gulf, waiting for solid security guarantees and a safe passage. Of these 15 vessels, 10 are large Indian-flagged ships. Four of them are loaded with fertilizers. One ship carries crude oil and gas.
Amid the tension, on Saturday, the Indian-flagged bulk carrier APJ Priti 2 successfully crossed the strait carrying 65,000 tons of fertilizer. Just a day earlier, on Friday, two other large ships also crossed this route. The vessel named 'Desh Suraksha' moved forward safely with over one lakh tons of crude oil. Meanwhile, Prabhu Parvati passed through this route carrying 18,732 tons of other essential goods.
MoU boosts ship movement
Even though the drone attack on Thursday, the US airstrikes inside Iran on Friday, and Iran's retaliatory action have deepened war clouds across West Asia on Saturday, government data shows that diplomacy had an impact in June. Between March 1 and June 17, only 19 ships managed to transit due to security concerns. Since June 17, after an agreement was signed between Iran and the US, Indian ship movements have surged. In just the last 10 days, 25 ships have safely passed through this route.
What are the India-bound ships carrying?
According to ship trackers, among the India-linked ships that have crossed Hormuz since March 1, there are 15 bulk carriers, 13 LPG carriers, 11 crude tankers, and 2 LAG vessels.
The Indian Navy and Ministry of External Affairs are in constant contact with the captains of the ships in the Persian Gulf and international security agencies to ensure these vessels, crucial for India's energy and agricultural security, are brought home safely.
