Three Indian-flagged crude oil tankers transit Strait of Hormuz; en route to India: Shipping Ministry
New Delhi, June 20
Three Indian-flagged crude oil tankers, Desh Vaibhav, Desh Vibhor and Sanmar Herald safety transited the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday and are scheduled to arrive in India.
Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, hailed the safe passage of the vessels and attributed it to the "decisive leadership" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In a post on X, Sonowal underscored the Ministry's commitment to ensuring the safety of Indian seafarers, noting maritime security as the government's highest priority.
"Safe passage secured! 3 Indian-flagged crude oil tankers, Desh Vaibhav, Desh Vibhor and Sanmar Herald carrying over 8.6 Lakh MT of cargo with 94 Indian crew members have successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz today and are en route to India," he wrote.
"Under the decisive leadership of Hon'ble PM Shri @narendramodi ji, GoI is working on highest priority to secure India's maritime interests. Our Ministry is actively coordinating with all relevant agencies to guarantee the absolute safety of Bharat's seafarers and energy lifelines," he added.
According to the Shipping Ministry, the three major cargo vessels are scheduled to arrive at various Indian ports in the coming days.
The Ministry stated that Desh Vaibhav is set to reach the port of Vadinar on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at 1200 hours with a crew of 37 Indian nationals and a cargo quantity of 2,86,572 MT.
Simultaneously, the Desh Vibhor is expected to arrive at Sikka, India, on June 24, 2026, at 0100 hours local time, carrying a crew of 27 Indians and 2,88,893 MT of cargo.
Additionally, the Sanmar Herald is slated to reach Paradip, India, on July 1, 2026, at 1200 hours local time, with its crew of 30 Indian nationals transporting 2,85,400 MT of cargo, the Ministry stated.
The announcement comes at a crucial time as Iran on Saturday announced the closure of the critical chokehold Strait of Hormuz, after the Israeli strikes in Lebanon continued despite the ceasefire agreement between Washington and Tehran.
According to Fars news agency, Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters made the move, citing the lack of implementation of the first clause of the digitally signed Memorandum of Understanding.
Iran criticised Israel's actions in Lebanon, recognising them as a "relentless and continuous violation of the ceasefire," Fars reported.
"In view of the flagrant bad faith and breach of covenant by America regarding the failure to implement the first clause of the end-of-war agreement, and in reaction to the relentless and continuous violation of the ceasefire by the Zionist regime in southern Lebanon and the brutal massacre and displacement of hundreds of thousands of the oppressed people of this land, and also in light of the occupying Zionist forces' refusal to withdraw from the lands of southern Lebanon, it declares that the Strait of Hormuz will be closed to the passage of vessels," the agency wrote in a post on X.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Impressive logistics getting three huge tankers through a closed strait. The crew deserves huge credit, 94 Indian nationals risking it all for our energy needs. But honestly, the political posturing about PM Modi's "decisive leadership" seems a bit much. The real heroes are the seafarers who navigate these dangerous waters every day.
Finally some good news amid all the tension! 😊 As an Indian, I feel proud that our ships and crew are safe. The Strait of Hormuz is no joke - 20% of global oil passes through there. Our government needs to double down on alternatives like the Chabahar port and more energy partnerships with Russia and Central Asia. Can't put all eggs in one basket!
The strategic importance of this transit cannot be overstated. With Iran closing the strait, every ship that gets through is a victory for India's maritime security. But I'm concerned about the larger geopolitical game - Iran blaming US and Israel, while we're caught in the middle. Our diplomats better be working overtime to keep these sea lanes open for future shipments. The June 24 arrival dates give us some breathing room, but what about July arrivals?
Respect for the Indian Navy and shipping ministry for pulling this off. But reading between the lines, this feels like a temporary fix. Iran closing Hormuz will spike global oil prices, hurting our economy and common people's pockets. The government should present a clear roadmap - more renewable energy, electric vehicles, and reducing import dependence. We can't keep celebrating "safe passages" indefinitely while ignoring the root cause.
R Rohit P Chak de India We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.