One of the 28 Indian-flagged ships stranded in the Strait of Hormuz for two weeks due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East has sailed safely, news agency PTI reported on Friday.
The Indian ship Jag Prakash, carrying oil from Oman to Africa, sailed east of the Strait of Hormuz, a major transit route for a fifth of the world’s energy supplies.
Hundreds of ships have been stranded in the sea lane since the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran, and Tehran has targeted the region in response.
Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Special Secretary at the Ministry of Shipping, said in a press conference that one of the four Indian ships stuck east of the strait has now set sail, carrying fuel to an African destination, PTI reported.
Follow the latest updates about the US-Iran war
Sinha said that of the total 28 Indian ships stuck near the strait, 24 were to the west of the strategic route, while the remaining four were to the east.
More than 20 million barrels of crude oil pass daily through the Strait of Hormuz, which separates the Iranian coast from Oman. A large share of the world’s liquefied natural gas also moves through the same corridor.
Basic facts about Jag Prakash
Ship tracking websites showed that Jag Prakash was loading petrol from Sohar port in Oman and was bound for Tangier in Tanzania. The ship will reach its destination on March 21.
Sinha said three ships were still stuck on the eastern side with 76 sailors on board. The other 24 Indian-flagged ships in the Persian Gulf have 668 sailors on board, the report said.
The official said that about 23,000 Indian seafarers work across commercial, port and maritime vessels in the wider Gulf region.
Read also: Report: US deploys 2,500 Marines and three warships to the Middle East amid conflict with Iran
“All Indian ships and their crews are being actively monitored,” Sinha said, adding that DG Shipping handled over 2,425 calls and 4,441 emails and facilitated the safe return of over 223 stranded Indian seafarers.
This development comes days after a Liberian-flagged tanker carrying Saudi crude, piloted by an Indian, cleared the Strait of Hormuz and docked at the port of Mumbai in Maharashtra state on Wednesday, becoming the first ship bound for India to safely cross the waterway.
Iranian Envoy: We will do our best
While 27 Indian-flagged ships remain stuck in the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s ambassador to India, Mohammad Fateh Ali, said, “We will do our best” to solve the problem.
Speaking to reporters, Fathali said: “We believe that Iran and India are friends. We have common interests, and we have a common faith.”
Read also: Obstacles hamper BRICS’ common position on West Asia as ‘some members participate directly’
Asked whether Iran would allow Indian-flagged ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, Fathali said: “As I said in my speech, we have a good relationship with the government of India, and our officials spoke yesterday with the Indian government and its officials. I think we should pray to God to remove all obstacles in various fields. As for your question, we will do our best to remove the problems. I think you can expect good news in the near future.”
