India reviews safety of its ships after Hormuz firing

New Delhi: India comprehensively reviewed safety of its flagged vessels, officials said, adding that the government is in contact with Iranian authorities to safeguard shipping.

The review follows last week's firing on two Indian-flagged ships in the Strait of Hormuz by the Iranian Navy. The incident was later concluded as non-targeted, with no indication it was intended to harm crew members.

The review was held Monday to assess the prevailing scenario.


No fresh safety advisory was issued post the meeting and the government is continuing with its existing directives.

"While the situation is evolving, there is no immediate need to revise protocols," one of the officials said.

"Coordinated transit permits were issued to Indian vessels but targeting of Iranian vessels by the American blockade may have triggered a blanket retaliation for all nations," the official said.

The Iran war and the closure of the crucial Hormuz waterway has sparked a global energy crisis, severely impacting major oil and gas importers including India.

Last week, US President Donald Trump announced an American blockade of Iranian marine traffic in the Persian Gulf and threatened to continue it till Tehran doesn't concede. He later said the US intercepted an Iranian-flagged cargo ship in the Gulf.

"India has not faced any blockade from the US," said the official cited above.

Two-Indian flagged ships faced warning shots from Iran while attempting to transit the Hormuz on Saturday. This forced them to turn back and no Indian-flagged vessels have crossed the strait since then.

"An Indian-flagged vessel had successfully transited the Strait earlier on Saturday," the official said. "There was no targeting specifically of Indian-flagged vessels."

In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said it "called in" the Iranian ambassador to New Delhi and "conveyed deep concern at the shooting incident."

According to Mukesh Mangal, additional secretary at the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, there were 14 vessels in the region, consisting of 13 Indian-flagged and one Indian-owned (but flagged elsewhere) vessel.

"India will continue to coordinate with Iranian authorities to secure safe passage of vessels," a second official said.