Israel-Iran conflict: 37 Indian ships stranded in Strait of Hormuz, Rs 100 billion at stake

Indian ships stranded as Hormuz crisis deepens (Representative image)

As the war between the United States–Israel alliance and Iran entered its sixth day on Thursday, at least 37 Indian-flagged vessels remain stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, leaving shipping assets worth more than ₹100 billion exposed to serious security risks, according to Indian shipowners.

The Indian National Shipowners Association (INSA) has written to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways urging urgent government intervention. The association said the vessels are caught in what it described as a “blocked style closure”, according to the Khaleej Times. Several of the affected ships are tankers carrying crude oil or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) destined for Indian ports.

Industry representatives warn that the disruption could have wider implications for India’s energy supplies. Around 85% of the country’s LPG imports pass through the Strait of Hormuz, making the route critical for domestic fuel availability.

INSA has also sought clarity from the government over reports suggesting that Chinese and Iranian vessels are still able to move through the strait. The claims have created uncertainty among Indian ship operators trying to assess whether navigation through the waterway remains possible.

The association said three Indian tankers have already come under attack since the conflict erupted on February 28. In one incident, an Indian-flagged vessel narrowly avoided a missile strike after the projectile landed barely a mile away.

INSA chief executive Anil Devli said roughly 400 Indian nationals are currently aboard oil tankers and gas carriers operating in the Strait of Hormuz, raising concerns about the safety of seafarers caught in the escalating conflict.

The situation comes as the strait remains effectively paralysed after Iran declared it would take control of the crucial maritime route in retaliation for US-Israeli strikes launched on February 28. The disruption has choked off key Middle Eastern oil and gas shipments and pushed global crude prices higher.

The Strait of Hormuz forms the narrow gateway to the Persian Gulf and is one of the world’s most strategically important shipping lanes. Roughly a fifth of global oil supply passes through the corridor, with tankers transporting energy exports from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Iran—much of it bound for Asian markets.

Beyond energy flows, the crisis is also affecting food supply chains. The conflict has disrupted agricultural shipments to Gulf states, where more than 50 million people depend on imports for over 90% of their food.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he had directed the US development finance arm to provide political risk insurance for tankers transporting oil and other goods through the Gulf “at a very reasonable price.”

Shipping data highlights the scale of the disruption. According to estimates from Clarksons Research, about 3,200 vessels—around 4% of global ship tonnage—are currently idle inside the Persian Gulf. However, the figure includes roughly 1,231 ships that typically operate only within Gulf waters.

(With inputs from agencies)