Fuel Tanker Bound for Tanzania Departs East of Strait of Hormuz

The Indian oil tanker Jag Prakash has sailed from east of the Strait of Hormuz after being stranded due to rising tensions in the Gulf. Three other Indian vessels with 76 sailors remain stuck east of the strait, while 24 ships carrying 677 Indian sailors are still stranded in the Persian Gulf as Iran threatens to keep the key shipping route closed.

The Indian-flagged oil tanker Jag Prakash, which is transporting gasoline from Oman to Africa, has departed from waters east of the Strait of Hormuz, according to an Indian government official on Friday. The vessel had been among several ships delayed in the region due to rising tensions linked to the ongoing conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel.
Ship-tracking data from Kpler indicated that the Jag Prakash is scheduled to deliver fuel that was loaded at Oman’s Sohar Port to Tanzania’s Tanga Port, with its expected arrival set for March 21. The movement of the tanker comes amid widespread disruption to shipping activities in the Gulf region over the past two weeks. Maritime traffic has been affected as Iran targets strategic areas in response to US-Israeli attacks, raising concerns about the safety of vessels operating near the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical shipping chokepoints for energy supplies.
Rajesh Kumar Sinha, India’s special secretary at the Ministry of Shipping, told reporters that as of Thursday four Indian-flagged vessels had been stuck east of the Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf of Oman due to the escalating security situation. He confirmed that one of those vessels, the Jag Prakash, had now successfully resumed its journey and sailed away from the affected area.
However, three Indian-flagged ships remain stranded on the eastern side of the Strait, with a total of 76 Indian sailors still onboard. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation as they seek safe passage for these vessels and their crew members.
Sinha further stated that on the western side of the Strait, in the Persian Gulf, 24 Indian-flagged vessels were still unable to move as of Friday. This figure remains unchanged from Thursday. These ships collectively carry 677 Indian sailors, highlighting the scale of the disruption affecting maritime operations and seafarers in the region.
Meanwhile, tensions in the area remain high. Iran’s new supreme leader declared on Thursday that the country intends to continue its resistance and maintain pressure by keeping the Strait of Hormuz closed as leverage against the United States and Israel. Such a move has the potential to significantly affect global energy markets and international shipping, given the strategic importance of the narrow waterway through which a large portion of the world’s oil shipments pass.