India is prioritizing the return of its stranded ships in the Gulf before sending any vessels back to load fuel, according to Mukesh Mangal, additional secretary at the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways. He emphasized the importance of securing all Indian-flagged vessels currently stuck in the Strait of Hormuz.
Mangal noted that India will dispatch vessels to the west of the Strait when conditions permit. Currently, 13 Indian-flagged and one Indian-owned vessel remain on the west side of the Strait. Coordination between the shipping and foreign ministries is ongoing, and any decision regarding sending vessels back will be made after all stranded ships have returned.
Since the conflict began with U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, 13 vessels carrying energy cargoes, primarily liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), have successfully transited out of the Strait. Before the conflict, over 40% of India’s crude oil imports and about 90% of its LPG came from the Middle East via this crucial waterway. The ongoing situation has led to significant disruptions in India’s cooking gas supply, marking one of the worst shortages in decades.
