27 Indian-flagged ships remain stranded in Persian Gulf, one starts moving: Government official

Twenty-seven Indian-flagged ships remain stranded in the Persian Gulf amid conflict, while one tanker has resumed its journey.

Of the 28 Indian-flagged ships in the Persian Gulf-Gulf of Oman region that had stopped moving with the start of the West Asia conflict on February 28, one oil tanker bound for Africa, Jag Prakash, has started moving at sea, a senior government official said on Friday (March 13, 2026).

Jag Prakash, an oil products tanker with a carrying capacity of 48,000 tonnes cargo and owned by Great Eastern Shipping Company, was among the four ships stranded east of the Strait of Hormuz. This means it did not have to cross the strait that the newly-elected Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has said must remain closed. Jag Prakash loaded at Sohar port in Oman and its destination is Tanzania.

Iran-Israel war updates on March 13, 2026

Three more Indian-flagged cargo ships with 76 seafarers on board are still located in the Gulf of Oman, while the 24 ships inside the Persian Gulf west of the Strait of Hormuz continue to remain stranded, according to officials.

Shipping industry leaders have been expecting relief with possible indications from the government advising ships to move at sea after Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on March 12. But the government had said the same day that it was premature to expect Iran to allow Indian ships to cross the strait.

At a media briefing on Friday (March 13 2026), Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Special Secretary, Ministry of Shipping and Waterways, said there are 23,000 Indian nationals working in the Persian Gulf region on merchant ships, ports and offshore vessels. The Directorate General of Shipping is in constant touch with them and all relevant stakeholders, he said.