A senior official has confirmed that one of the 28 Indian-flagged vessels stranded in the Strait of Hormuz has successfully departed. The oil tanker Jag Prakash, which was transporting gasoline from Oman to Africa, has navigated away from the eastern side of the Strait, according to Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Special Secretary in the Ministry of Shipping. The vessel is expected to reach its destination in Tanga, Tanzania, on March 21.
The situation arose amid escalating hostilities in the region, with hundreds of ships trapped in the narrow sea lane between Iran and Oman following attacks by the US and Israel on Iran, which subsequently retaliated. Sinha reported that 24 Indian vessels remain stranded on the western side of the Strait, with a total of 668 sailors aboard, while three vessels with 76 seafarers are still stuck on the eastern side.
The Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping) has been actively coordinating with ship owners and Indian missions to monitor the situation. Since the establishment of a 24-hour control room, DG Shipping has managed over 2,425 calls and 4,441 emails, facilitating the repatriation of more than 223 stranded Indian seafarers. Regular advisories have been issued to ensure the safety of Indian vessels and crews in the region.
In light of the ongoing crisis, there have been reports of three Indian seafarer casualties, with one still missing. Four injured seafarers have received treatment and been discharged. The Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways is closely monitoring the maritime situation in the Persian Gulf, ensuring that port operations in India remain stable and that priority measures are in place for vessels carrying essential supplies like LPG.
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