Indian-flagged vessels safe for now, all eyes on war escalation

India is closely monitoring developments that may trigger maritime disruptions due to any escalation of the US-Iran-Israel conflict, senior officials said Monday.

Indian-flagged vessels and Indian seafarers calling at ports of Iran and transiting through the Strait of Hormuz are advised to exercise due caution while operating in or navigating through the region, they said, citing the June 13 advisory issued by the Directorate General (DG) of Shipping.

"Stakeholders are strongly advised to monitor the safety and status of Indian crew onboard vessels operating in Iranian waters," the advisory had said while adding seafarers in Iran are requested to remain vigilant, avoid unnecessary movement, and follow the Indian embassy's official social media handles.

According to official estimates, on an average 114 ships are transiting in the Strait of Hormuz every day. Of these around one or two are Indian-flagged vessels.

"There is no imminent threat to Indian flagged vessels since we have good relations with both Israel and Iran," a senior official told ET.

Tensions have heightened in West Asia after the United States attacked Iranian nuclear facilities in the weekend. Iran has threatened retaliation despite calls from Western nations for restraint. Israel, too, is showing no signs of backing down.

Sector watchers say while tensions persist, there are currently no indications of imminent threats to commercial shipping in the region.

"Multiple vessels from unaligned nations have successfully navigated the Strait of Hormuz without incident, a positive sign for the near future," an official said.

A bigger concern is persistently high levels of electronic interference, particularly affecting Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), continue to plague the area.

"Electronic interference originating from the Port of Bandar Abbas is excessively affecting the Central Arabian Gulf. In response, some vessels are opting to transit the Strait of Hormuz during daylight hours," a sector watcher said.