As of Tuesday, 50 vessels flying Indian or foreign flags have passed through the Strait of Hormuz since the start of the Middle East conflict on February 28, transporting cargo to India.
Situation in the Persian Gulf
Currently, only nine Indian vessels are in the Persian Gulf region, located west of the Strait of Hormuz, carrying 198 Indian crew members. An official representative of the Ministry of Shipping stated that the vessels are not under attack and continue to operate or participate in activities in this region.
There is no information on whether Indian vessels expect to pass through the strait into West Asia to pick up new cargo shipments. Industry insiders believe that shipping lines may require additional time to plan the resumption of sailings to this area.
Characteristics of Transit Vessels
Officials reported that while 18 vessels under other flags have safely passed through the strait, the remaining 32 vessels have foreign registration. Among the vessels that have passed so far, bulk carriers constitute the largest number—a maximum of 19—along with 14 vessels transporting liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and 12 tankers carrying crude oil. The remaining vessels include two LNG carriers and one container ship.
Development of Port Infrastructure
Kamaraj Port in Tamil Nadu has become the second port owned by the central government or major ports to reach an operational depth of 18 meters, following Visakhapatnam Port. Minister of Shipping Sarbananda Sonaval noted that this is another important milestone on the way to creating modern, future-ready maritime infrastructure that will contribute to India's economic growth and global trade.


