Indian vessels turn back after gunfire in Strait of Hormuz, one tanker passes safely

New Delhi: An Indian-flagged crude oil tanker has successfully navigated the Strait of Hormuz, even as two other vessels were forced to retreat after coming under fire. The incident has led New Delhi to raise concerns with Iran regarding the safety of merchant ships operating in the region.

The tanker Desh Garima, carrying 31 Indian seafarers, crossed the strategically important Strait of Hormuz on 18 April. According to a government update on developments in West Asia, the vessel is expected to arrive in Mumbai on 22 April.

Operated by the Shipping Corporation of India, the tanker is the tenth India-flagged vessel to pass through the strait since early March.

Firing incident forces ships to reverse course

In contrast, two other vessels reported a firing incident while attempting to transit the same route. The very large crude carrier Samnar Herad and the bulk carrier Jag Arnav both turned back towards the Persian Gulf after the incident, which occurred within the past 24 hours.

No injuries were reported among the crew members on board either vessel.

Data from MarineTraffic indicated that two additional oil tankers, Desh Vaibhav and Desh Vibhor, also changed course near the chokepoint. This has increased the number of India-flagged ships currently in the Persian Gulf to 14.

India raises concerns with Iran

India’s Foreign Secretary summoned Iran’s ambassador in New Delhi to express what was described as “deep concern” over the firing incident. During the meeting, emphasis was placed on the importance of ensuring the safety of merchant shipping and seafarers.

“The Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran in New Delhi was called in yesterday by the Ministry of External Affairs for a meeting with Foreign Secretary. During the meeting, Foreign Secretary conveyed India’s deep concern at the shooting incident earlier yesterday involving two Indian-flagged ships in the Strait of Hormuz. He noted the importance that India attached to the safety of merchant shipping and mariners,” the official update stated.

Reiterating the seriousness of the situation, the Foreign Secretary urged the ambassador to communicate India’s position to Iranian authorities and to facilitate the safe passage of India-bound vessels through the strait at the earliest.

The government said the situation continues to be closely monitored in coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs and other relevant stakeholders. It also confirmed that all Indian seafarers are safe.

State-run Shipping Corporation of India owns the vessels Desh Vaibhav and Desh Vibhor, while Samnar Herald is operated by Sanmar Shipping and Jag Arnav by Great Eastern Shipping Company.

Details of the incident at sea

According to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, a tanker reported being approached by two gunboats belonging to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps and was fired upon approximately 20 nautical miles northeast of Oman.

This development is believed to have triggered the decision by Indian vessels to turn back.

Shipping tracker TankerTrackers.com also reported that two India-flagged ships, including a supertanker carrying Iraqi crude, were forced to reverse course after coming under fire.

The incident comes amid broader disruptions in the Persian Gulf, where numerous commercial vessels and thousands of seafarers have remained stranded since the outbreak of the West Asia conflict on 28 February. The situation has significantly limited movement through the Strait of Hormuz.

The narrow passage is responsible for carrying nearly one fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas supplies, making it one of the most vital energy corridors globally. Iran’s ability to interfere with traffic through the strait has become a key factor in the ongoing conflict.

With agency inputs