What Happened
- At least 27 Indian-flagged ships remained stranded in the Persian Gulf following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz after the outbreak of the US-Israel war against Iran in late February 2026.
- Three cargo ships with 76 seafarers were in the Gulf of Oman; 24 ships were stranded inside the Persian Gulf; one oil tanker (Jag Prakash) had begun moving toward Tanzania.
- Approximately 23,000 Indian nationals were working in the broader region — on merchant ships, in ports, and on offshore vessels — making this one of the largest overseas Indian labour disruptions in recent years.
- The Indian government was in diplomatic talks with Iran to arrange safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, and the Indian Navy deployed warships under a renewed Operation Sankalp to escort vessels.
- Iran later announced that ships from five nations — India, China, Russia, Iraq, and Pakistan — would be permitted to transit the Strait, reflecting the diplomatic effort to protect Indian nationals and trade interests.
Static Topic Bridges
Strait of Hormuz: Strategic Geography and India's Dependence
The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway (21 miles wide at its narrowest point) between Iran and Oman, connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. It is the world's most critical oil chokepoint, through which approximately 20 million barrels of oil per day transited in 2024 — roughly 20% of global petroleum liquids consumption and 20% of global LNG trade.
- Approximately 60% of India's crude oil imports originate from Persian Gulf countries (Iraq, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar); virtually all must transit the Strait of Hormuz.
- There is no viable alternative pipeline or maritime route to bypass the Strait for Persian Gulf producers at scale.
- The Strait is flanked by Iran on the north and Oman (an Arab state with friendly relations with both Iran and Western nations) on the south.
- Any closure of the Strait directly impacts global crude prices, LNG supply (Qatar is the world's largest LNG exporter), and shipping insurance costs.
- India's strategic petroleum reserves (approximately 5.33 million tonnes across three underground caverns) can cover only about 9–10 days of imports.
Connection to this news: The Hormuz closure directly stranded Indian ships carrying Indian crew because of India's fundamental geographic dependence on this single chokepoint for its most critical energy import route.
Operation Sankalp and India's Maritime Security Posture
Operation Sankalp was first launched by the Indian Navy in June 2019 during the Iran-US tensions that followed the US withdrawal from the JCPOA (Iran nuclear deal) and subsequent incidents of tanker attacks in the Gulf of Oman. The 2019 mission deployed INS Chennai and INS Sunayna to protect Indian-flagged vessels. A similar deployment was made in 2026.
- Operation Sankalp (2019) was India's first dedicated naval deployment in the Gulf of Oman region for convoy escort purposes.
- The operation was designed to escort Indian-flagged vessels through dangerous zones — avoiding alignment with either the US-led coalition (which deployed its own naval escort mission) or Iran.
- India's "SAGAR" (Security and Growth for All in the Region) doctrine positions India as a net maritime security provider in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
- The Indian Navy has been conducting anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden under Operation Atalanta (EU mission) since 2008 and its own anti-piracy patrols.
- In 2026, India's diplomatic skill in securing permission for Indian ships to transit the Strait — even as the Strait was closed to others — was a notable foreign policy achievement.
Connection to this news: Operation Sankalp (2026 iteration) demonstrated India's ability to project limited naval power to protect its nationals and commercial interests in the Gulf — a practical application of the SAGAR doctrine.
Indian Seafarers and the Maritime Labour Convention
India is one of the world's largest suppliers of trained seafarers. With approximately 200,000+ seafarers employed on ships globally, India accounts for roughly 12–15% of the world's seafarer workforce, making the welfare of Indian seafarers a significant foreign policy and labour rights concern.
- The Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), 2006, of the International Labour Organization (ILO), is often called the "Seafarers' Bill of Rights." India ratified the MLC in 2015.
- The MLC sets minimum standards for seafarer wages, working hours, rest periods, accommodation, healthcare, and repatriation.
- The Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways is the Indian regulatory authority for seafarer certification and ship registration.
- India's Merchant Shipping Act was replaced by the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025, modernising the legal framework for seafarer welfare and commercial shipping.
- The 2026 Hormuz crisis highlighted gaps in India's seafarer emergency response framework: many stranded seafarers initially lacked clear government communication, consular support, or evacuation plans.
Connection to this news: The stranding of 23,000 Indian maritime workers underscored the importance of robust seafarer welfare frameworks and consular emergency preparedness — both domestic governance concerns and international labour rights obligations.
Key Facts & Data
- 27 Indian-flagged ships were stranded in the Persian Gulf/Gulf of Oman following the Hormuz closure in early 2026; one (Jag Prakash) began moving toward Tanzania.
- Approximately 23,000 Indian nationals were working in the Gulf region on ships, ports, and offshore vessels.
- The Strait of Hormuz carries approximately 20 million barrels/day — ~20% of global petroleum liquids and ~20% of global LNG trade.
- India's strategic petroleum reserves cover approximately 9–10 days of import requirements.
- India deployed warships under Operation Sankalp for convoy escort; Iran permitted Indian-flagged ships (along with Chinese, Russian, Iraqi, and Pakistani) to transit.
- India has approximately 200,000+ seafarers employed globally — one of the largest national workforces in maritime shipping.
- India ratified the ILO Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) in 2015.