A crude oil tanker captained by an Indian officer has safely reached Mumbai after navigating the sensitive Strait of Hormuz amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. The Liberia-flagged vessel, Shenlong Suezmax, was carrying crude oil loaded from Ras Tanura port in Saudi Arabia and arrived at Mumbai Port on Wednesday, according to officials from the Mumbai Port Trust.
The tanker’s passage through the Strait of Hormuz came after Iran allowed Indian-linked oil tankers to transit the strategically important waterway. The clearance followed discussions between India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi, according to sources.
The vessel had departed from Ras Tanura on March 1 before navigating the high-risk corridor connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most crucial maritime chokepoints, handling a large share of global crude oil and natural gas shipments.
Security concerns in the region have intensified after military operations launched by the United States and Israel against Iran began on February 28. Since then, Iran has tightened control over the strait and reportedly attacked multiple vessels operating in the corridor, raising fears of disruptions to global energy supplies.
The potential closure of this vital shipping route has also prompted India—one of the world’s largest energy consumers—to explore alternative supply options, including increased crude oil purchases from Russia.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Shipping said that 28 Indian-flagged vessels are currently operating in the Persian Gulf region. Of these, 24 ships carrying 677 Indian seafarers are located west of the Strait of Hormuz, while four vessels with 101 Indian crew members are operating east of the strait.
Authorities said the safety of Indian ships and seafarers is being closely monitored. A round-the-clock control room has been set up by the Ministry of Shipping and the Directorate General of Shipping since February 28 to track developments and coordinate assistance if required.
The regional tensions escalated further on Wednesday when a Thai vessel heading toward Kandla Port in Gujarat was reportedly attacked in the strait, prompting strong criticism from New Delhi.
According to reports, Iran has targeted at least 16 ships in the waterway since the escalation began. Attacks have also included a strike on a container ship off the coast of Dubai, a fire incident near the international airport in Bahrain, and a drone attack on a major Saudi oil facility. In addition, operations at oil terminals in Basra were halted after attacks on port infrastructure along the Persian Gulf.
Iranian authorities have also warned that crude oil prices could surge dramatically if the conflict escalates further, potentially reaching around 200 US dollars per barrel, nearly double current levels.
