An India-flagged fuel tanker carrying gasoline to Africa has set sail from waters east of the Strait of Hormuz after being stranded for days amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, an Indian government official said Friday.
The tanker, Jag Prakash, departed from the Gulf of Oman after shipping traffic in the region was disrupted by a sharp deterioration in security following military strikes involving the United States, Israel and Iran.
Rajesh Kumar Sinha, India’s special secretary at the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, said the vessel had previously been among four Indian-flagged ships stranded east of the strategic chokepoint.
“One of them, Jag Prakash, has now set sail,” Sinha told reporters in New Delhi.
The remaining three vessels are still stuck on the eastern side of the Strait, carrying a total of 76 Indian sailors, he said.
The development comes as tensions in the Gulf ripple through global energy markets and shipping routes, with vessels either delaying passage through the narrow waterway or waiting in nearby waters amid security fears.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical maritime passages, handling roughly a fifth of global oil shipments. Any disruption to traffic there can send shockwaves through global energy markets and international trade routes.
According to Sinha, Indian authorities are closely monitoring the situation as dozens of Indian-flagged ships and hundreds of sailors remain in the wider Gulf region.
He said that 24 Indian-flagged vessels were still positioned west of the Strait, inside the Persian Gulf, as of Friday — the same number reported a day earlier.
Those vessels carry a total of 677 Indian sailors on board.
The Indian government has been coordinating with shipping companies and international partners to track the safety of the vessels and their crews as the crisis unfolds.
Maritime authorities have warned that the situation remains fluid as tensions between Iran and its adversaries escalate.
Iran has been targeting shipping routes and regional assets in what it describes as retaliation for recent U.S. and Israeli attacks on its territory, raising fears of wider disruption across the Gulf — a critical artery for global oil and gas flows.
In a sign of the escalating standoff, Iran’s new supreme leader said Thursday that the country would continue to resist its enemies and maintain pressure by keeping the Strait of Hormuz closed if necessary.
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The remarks were the first public comments attributed to him since he succeeded his father, who was killed earlier in the conflict.
Analysts warn that any prolonged disruption in the region could have major implications for international energy supplies, insurance costs for vessels and freight rates.
Data from the maritime intelligence firm Kpler indicated that the Jag Prakash is transporting gasoline loaded at the Sohar Port in Oman.
The vessel is scheduled to discharge its cargo at the Port of Tanga on March 21, according to ship-tracking information.
The shipment highlights the importance of Gulf fuel exports to African markets, where several countries rely heavily on imported refined petroleum products.
Industry observers say the current tensions underscore the vulnerability of global energy supply chains to geopolitical shocks in the Gulf region.
For now, shipping companies are proceeding cautiously, with some vessels waiting offshore or rerouting where possible while monitoring developments around the Strait.
Indian officials said efforts were continuing to ensure the safety of seafarers and to facilitate the movement of stranded vessels as conditions allow.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints, linking the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and ultimately the wider Indian Ocean. At its narrowest point, the strait is only about 33 kilometres (21 miles) wide, making shipping traffic highly vulnerable to geopolitical tensions in the region.
Roughly a fifth of the world’s oil consumption passes through the strait each day, according to energy analysts. Major oil producers including Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Iraq and Iran ship crude and refined petroleum products through the corridor to markets in Asia, Europe and Africa.
Because of its strategic importance, the waterway has frequently been at the centre of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Iran has repeatedly threatened to block or restrict passage through the strait during periods of confrontation with Western powers or regional rivals.
Shipping disruptions have occurred several times over the past decade. Tankers have been seized or attacked in incidents linked to regional tensions, prompting international naval patrols aimed at protecting commercial shipping. The United States and several allies maintain a significant military presence in the Gulf to safeguard maritime routes and energy infrastructure.
Recent instability in the region has once again heightened concerns about maritime safety. Escalating hostilities involving Iran, the United States and Israel have led to security fears among shipping operators and insurers, causing some vessels to delay transits or remain anchored near the strait until conditions stabilize.
The disruption has also highlighted the dependence of many countries on Gulf energy exports. Several African nations import large volumes of refined petroleum products from Middle Eastern producers, often transported through the Strait of Hormuz before crossing the Indian Ocean to ports in East and West Africa.
India is particularly sensitive to disruptions in Gulf shipping lanes because of its extensive trade and energy links with the region. Indian shipping companies operate numerous vessels transporting oil, fuel and other commodities between the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Thousands of Indian seafarers also serve aboard merchant vessels navigating these waters.
In response to rising tensions, Indian authorities have been monitoring the situation closely and coordinating with ship owners to track the location and safety of vessels flying the country’s flag. Maritime officials have also maintained communication with crews stranded near the Strait of Hormuz to ensure their safety and facilitate their eventual movement once conditions permit.
Analysts say that prolonged disruption around the strait could have wider consequences for global energy prices and shipping costs, particularly if insurance premiums rise or if vessels are forced to take longer alternative routes.
Despite these risks, the Strait of Hormuz remains an indispensable artery for global trade, with hundreds of ships passing through the corridor each week carrying oil, gas and other cargo between the Middle East and markets around the world.
