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2 min readNew DelhiJun 20, 2026 08:37 PM IST
Tankers and cargo vessels are seen in the Gulf of Oman, along shipping routes linking the Strait of Hormuz and the Arabian Sea. (PTI))
Three Indian-flagged crude oil tankers safely crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, and are scheduled to arrive in India shortly, sources in the Ministry of Shipping, Ports and Waterways said.
The Desh Vaibhav, scheduled to reach Vadinar in India on June 24 with 37 Indian seafarers on board and is carrying a cargo of 2,86,572 MT. Following that, another vessel, Desh Vibhor, is expected to reach Sikka on June 24. There are 27 Indians on board and is carrying a cargo of 2,88,893 MT.
The third ship is Sanmar Herald, which is headed for Paradip Port on the eastern coast of India and will arrive on July 1. It has 30 Indian seafarers on board, and is ferrying cargo of 2,85,400 MT.
There are only Indian seafarers onboard the three vessels, which crossed the Hormuz. The development follows the US-Iran agreement signed days ago — which currently seems in jeopardy following the Israeli attack on Lebanon. Subsequently, as many as 13 Indian-flagged ships were stranded in the Hormuz.
Iran’s top joint military command on Saturday announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz once again, accusing the United States of violating commitments under the recently signed US-Iran memorandum of understanding and citing continued Israeli military operations in southern Lebanon.
Days before the US and Iran signed the agreement, three Indian seafarers on a Palau-flagged ship were killed in US missile strikes. The three seafarers were identified by the government as Suresh Patnala, chief engineer; Shivanand Chorasiya, fitter; and Aditya Sharms, cadet.
This led to much domestic outcry and Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the of safety of seafarers in his meeting with US President Donald Trump along the sidelines of recently concluded G 7 Summit. The Opposition has been critical of Modi over not taking a tough stance on the issue.
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