Indian Navy secures safe passage for oil tanker Omega Trader amid Hormuz conflict

New Delhi: The Indian government and the Indian Navy have successfully secured the safe transit of the crude oil tanker Omega Trader, which has a crew of 23 on board, including 15 Indian citizens, amid escalating conflict in the Strait of Hormuz, government sources confirmed on Tuesday.

According to sources, the vessel’s complement consists of 15 Indians and eight Filipino nationals. Coordinated operations between the Government of India and naval forces ensured that the ship navigated the hazardous waterway securely.

The Omega Trader, which is transporting a cargo of crude oil, is now expected to arrive safely at its destination in Sikka, Gujarat, sources added.

The successful passage occurs amidst severe safety concerns along vital global shipping lanes, following recent attacks on merchant shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and the subsequent rise in regional hostilities.

Earlier, the United States military carried out a sequence of strikes against targets in Iran in retaliation for the assaults on commercial vessels navigating the Strait of Hormuz, US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed on Tuesday local time.

CENTCOM stated that the military interventions were designed to impose "heavy costs" on Iran following the disruptions to commercial shipping within the international maritime corridor.

With inputs from ANI