38 Indian Ships Stranded In Persian Gulf, 3 Sailors Killed

India-West News Desk

NEW DELHI/MUMBAI -Thirty-eight Indian-flagged ships carrying crude oil and LNG, along with nearly 1,100 seafarers, remain stranded in the Persian Gulf amid escalating tensions in West Asia, officials said March 3.

Authorities said 24 of the vessels are positioned west of the Strait of Hormuz and 14 east of the strait.

But the Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping) said there have been no confirmed incidents involving Indian-flagged vessels.

However, four incidents involving Indian sailors serving on foreign-flagged ships have been reported in attacks near the Oman port area, resulting in three deaths and one injury, DG Shipping said.

India has about 23,000 seafarers working on ships in the conflict-affected region at any given time, officials said, adding that ensuring their safety remains the government’s priority. India is the world’s third-largest supplier of seafarers after the Philippines and China.

The conflict has disrupted maritime trade routes. Several container shipping lines have suspended services to the Middle East and rerouted vessels through the Cape of Good Hope instead of the Suez route, increasing travel time and operational costs.

Port authorities said about 1,000 containers are currently stuck at Indian ports, while shipping companies and ports are coordinating to manage loading and unloading schedules.