30 India-Bound Ships Cross Strait Of Hormuz, 26 Await Transit As Gulf Maritime Traffic Improves

Last Updated:June 25, 2026, 07:13 IST

India continues to monitor 26 ships in the Persian Gulf as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz improves, with energy, fertiliser and cargo vessels awaiting safe passage.

Thirty India-bound ships have safely crossed the Strait of Hormuz, while another 26 vessels of Indian interest remain in the Persian Gulf awaiting passage through the strategically important waterway, The Times of India (TOI) reported, citing shipping ministry sources.

According to the report, the successful crossings come as maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has shown signs of improvement following the US-Iran memorandum of understanding, with officials continuing to monitor the movement of vessels carrying critical cargo for India.

The report mentioned that among the 30 ships that have reached or are heading towards Indian ports, nearly half were transporting liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Eight vessels were carrying bulk cargo, while seven were crude oil tankers.

Officials were quoted as saying that shipping movement has picked up in recent days.

While only 19 transits took place between March 1 and June 17, an additional 11 India-bound ships have crossed the Strait of Hormuz safely after the signing of the Iran-US memorandum of understanding.

The report further stated that 17 of the 30 vessels are foreign-flagged ships, with Marshall Islands-flagged vessels accounting for the highest number at five.

According to shipping ministry sources quoted in the report, 26 vessels of Indian interest, including both Indian-flagged ships and foreign-flagged vessels bound for Indian ports, continue to remain in the Persian Gulf, west of the Strait of Hormuz.

Of these, three are carrying energy cargo, 10 are transporting fertilisers, while the remaining 13 are carrying other cargo.

The Strait of Hormuz is an international waterway through which nearly one-fifth of the world’s energy supplies pass.

For India, the Gulf region remains a key source of LPG and LNG imports, making uninterrupted movement through the strait critical for the country’s energy security.

Meanwhile, international maritime data also indicates an improvement in commercial shipping through the waterway.

According to AFP, citing maritime tracking firm Kpler, 25 commodity ships transited the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, while 17 had crossed by 1500 GMT on Wednesday.

Although lower than the 38 commodity transits recorded on Monday, the figures suggest that shipping activity has improved compared to the period before the US-Iran agreement.

AFP reported that Kpler data shows an average of 22 commodity ships have crossed the strait each day since June 15, compared with fewer than 10 daily crossings between March 1 and June 14.

“In peacetime, around 120 ships normally pass through the Strait of Hormuz each day, carrying about a fifth of global oil and LNG gas exports, making it one of the world’s most important waterways," AFP reported.

The news agency also reported that ships have begun using newly approved International Maritime Organisation (IMO) evacuation routes announced earlier this week.

These include a route close to the Omani coast for vessels exiting the Gulf and another through Iranian waters for ships travelling in both directions.

AFP further reported that movements of Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) have increased since the US-Iran agreement.

Three VLCCs, including one empty tanker, crossed the strait on Wednesday carrying a combined 4.1 million barrels of crude oil out of the Gulf, while five VLCCs crossed on Tuesday, three of them laden.

About the Author

Vani Mehrotra

Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has more than 10 years of experience in national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

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