Three vessels have recently managed to pass through the strategically sensitive Strait of Hormuz amid rising tensions in the Gulf region, though none of them are actually registered under the Indian flag. While two ships — Pushpak and Parimal — drew attention after reports suggested they were “Indian-flagged,” maritime records show that although they are managed by Indian companies, they are neither owned by Indian entities nor registered as Indian vessels.
Earlier media reports had also suggested that Iran had permitted Indian-flagged ships to safely transit the strait. However, during a press briefing, Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, declined to confirm or deny these claims. He said that S. Jaishankar had spoken to his Iranian counterpart three times in recent days, with the latest conversation focusing on maritime security and India’s energy supply concerns. Jaiswal added that it would be premature to draw conclusions about the reported safe passage arrangement.
The waters of the Strait of Hormuz have become increasingly dangerous due to the ongoing conflict involving United States, Israel and Iran. Military activity in the region has created multiple threats for commercial vessels, including surveillance drones such as Shahed UAVs, explosive unmanned surface vessels, and naval mines deployed on or beneath the seabed. These layered threats have effectively turned the narrow waterway into a major maritime choke point for global shipping.
Using maritime intelligence and AIS tracking data, analysts reconstructed the movements of vessels navigating this high-risk corridor. The data indicates that ships have not been granted any guaranteed safe passage but have instead carefully navigated the strait under heightened security conditions.
The crude oil tanker Shenlong became the first vessel bound for Mumbai to successfully cross the Strait of Hormuz since hostilities escalated in the region late last month. Two additional vessels, Pushpak and Parimal, also managed to pass through the volatile Persian Gulf corridor and enter the Gulf of Oman despite ongoing risks.
Tracking records show that the Liberia-flagged Suezmax tanker Shenlong began its journey from Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates, where it underwent bunkering operations between February 19 and February 28. The vessel later docked at the Ju’aymah Oil Field Terminal near Ras Tanura in Saudi Arabia, where it loaded crude oil between March 2 and March 3.
After leaving the terminal, the tanker appeared only once in AIS tracking systems while inside the Strait of Hormuz, with its last recorded signal in the area logged on March 8. It later reappeared in tracking systems near India’s western coast and was recorded approaching Mumbai on March 11 before docking at the port around noon.
The gap in AIS signals suggests that the vessel likely travelled through the high-risk zone in “dark mode,” a practice where ships temporarily disable their tracking systems to reduce the likelihood of being targeted during periods of heightened maritime tension.
According to Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Special Secretary in the Ministry of Shipping, a total of 28 Indian-flagged vessels are currently operating in the Persian Gulf region. Of these, 24 ships are positioned west of the Strait of Hormuz carrying 677 Indian seafarers, while four vessels are located east of the strait with 101 Indian crew members onboard.
Officials said that all Indian vessels and seafarers in the region are being closely monitored as the government tracks the evolving security situation in the Gulf.
Independent maritime tracking has identified at least 21 Indian-flagged vessels currently stranded within the Persian Gulf due to the escalating conflict. Additionally, nine vessels are docked at nearby ports while only three ships have managed to successfully cross the Strait of Hormuz into the Gulf of Oman.
Experts caution that the actual number of India-linked vessels could be significantly higher because many ships either stop broadcasting AIS signals or operate under complex ownership and management structures that make them difficult to track accurately.
Two vessels that recently crossed the strait — Pushpak and Parimal — are both managed by Mumbai-based SA Marine Services. Pushpak sails under the Cook Islands flag and is owned by Rajtilak Shipping Inc., a company registered in Ras Al Khaimah in the UAE. Parimal sails under the Palau flag and is owned by Parimal Shipping Inc., another UAE-based firm.
According to vessel tracking data from MarineTraffic, Pushpak was recorded near the U-shaped bend of the Strait of Hormuz roughly six days ago while sailing from Khor Al Zubair Port in Iraq after departing on March 3, 2026. Its latest recorded position on March 11 placed it near the strait before it proceeded onward into the Gulf of Oman.
Historical tracking data for the vessel Parimal was not fully available, but the most recent signals confirm that it too has passed through the waters surrounding the Strait of Hormuz and is continuing toward its destination beyond the Gulf of Oman.
