India coordinates naval escort as tankers navigate Hormuz amid Iran conflict
India has stepped up naval coordination to protect its commercial vessels in the Persian Gulf after escalating tensions in the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
An Indian-flagged liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanker, Pine Gas, was forced to wait nearly three weeks before safely transiting the strait after Iran began selectively allowing vessels to pass. The ship had loaded cargo in the United Arab Emirates just a day before military strikes on Iran on February 28.
The vessel’s 27-member Indian crew reported witnessing missiles and drones in the sky while waiting offshore. In footage reviewed by Reuters, projectiles can be seen moving across the night sky above the ship.
Initially scheduled to sail around March 11, the tanker was only cleared to move on March 23. Instead of using the usual shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz, the vessel was directed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to take a less-traveled route near Larak Island, which officials said was safer due to reported mine risks in the main passage.
The ship proceeded only after all crew members gave consent, according to its chief officer Sohan Lal. The Indian Navy provided guidance during the transit and later escorted the vessel along with four warships for nearly 20 hours from the Gulf of Oman into the Arabian Sea.
Indian authorities confirmed they are providing naval support to safeguard Indian-flagged vessels operating in the region. The government said its naval presence in the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea has long been in place to ensure maritime security.
India, which depends heavily on imported LPG for domestic use, has redirected the Pine Gas cargo to eastern ports after its original destination in Mangalore was altered by authorities.
Iran has stated that it allows passage for what it calls “friendly nations,” including India, China, and others, even as broader tensions continue to disrupt global shipping routes.
Despite some vessels successfully transiting the strait, 18 Indian-flagged ships carrying hundreds of crew members remain in the Persian Gulf amid ongoing uncertainty.
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