- 23,000 Indian sailors may be stranded due to Gulf region conflict and disrupted routes
- 36 Indian-flagged vessels remain trapped in the Persian Gulf amid escalating military strikes
- Tehran has effectively blockaded the Strait of Hormuz, affecting 20% of global crude oil supply
As many as 23,000 Indian sailors could be stranded across the conflict-hit Gulf region as escalating military action between the United States, Israel and Iran severely disrupts maritime routes, sources have told NDTV Profit.
As of March 5, 36 Indian-flagged vessels remain trapped in the Persian Gulf. The crisis stems from recent U.S. and Israeli military strikes against Iranian targets, prompting Tehran to effectively blockade the Strait of Hormuz - a narrow, vital chokepoint that handles approximately 20% of the world's crude oil supply.
The Indian government has stepped up surveillance in the high-risk zones to safeguard its maritime assets, with authorities increasing the frequency of vessel monitoring from every six hours to every hour. They have maintained constant communication with the trapped crews.
As of now, two Indian-flagged vessels are navigating the Gulf of Aden, whereas none are active transiting the highly volatile Red Sea. There are 1,074 Indian personnel onboard the 36 Indian-flagged vessels in the immediate vicinity. Seven of these ships belong to the state-run Shipping Corporation of India. Tracking data indicates 12 ships are positioned east of the Strait and in the Gulf of Oman, while 24 ships are stalled west of the Strait of Hormuz.
The majority of these vessels are carrying crucial energy supplies, including crude oil, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and commercial cargo.
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