India deploys warships to escort fuel tankers in Gulf

The Indian Navy has deployed several warships to the Gulf region to escort merchant vessels carrying fuel to India amid rising maritime tensions, according to a report by The Indian Express citing official sources.

At least two warships were placed on operational standby after Iran imposed a blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway linking the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.

Under the navy’s ongoing Operation Sankalp, Indian warships are already stationed in the Gulf of Aden and the Gulf of Oman to conduct anti-piracy operations and safeguard maritime trade routes. Following the recent West Asian conflict, additional vessels have been sent to the region, the report said.

India has also been in discussions with Iran to ensure the safe passage of ships heading toward Indian ports, particularly oil and energy tankers that pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

Shipping traffic through the key waterway, which usually carries about one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies, has been severely disrupted since the regional conflict began on February 28. Several merchant vessels have reportedly come under attack in recent days.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently held a phone conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, emphasizing the importance of uninterrupted transit of goods and energy supplies for India. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has also spoken multiple times with his Iranian counterpart Seyed Abbas Araghchi regarding energy shipments from the region.

According to India’s foreign ministry, the government remains in constant contact with relevant countries to ensure the safe movement of Indian vessels and maintain the country’s energy security.

As of Saturday, 24 Indian cargo ships were in the Persian Gulf region. Two Indian-flag LPG carriers, Shivalik and Nanda Devi, carrying about 92,712 metric tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas, crossed the Strait of Hormuz early Saturday and are expected to reach the ports of Mundra and Kandla in Gujarat on March 16 and 17.

Official data show that among the Indian vessels in the region are six LPG tankers, four crude oil tankers, one LNG carrier and one tanker carrying chemicals or petroleum products. The remaining ships include container vessels, bulk carriers and other support ships, while three vessels are currently undergoing routine maintenance in dry dock.