12th India-bound ship crosses Hormuz, one more on way

By May 13, 2026, twelve India-bound commercial vessels had successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz since the outbreak of the conflict, with a thirteenth on...

What Happened

By May 13, 2026, twelve India-bound commercial vessels had successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz since the outbreak of the conflict, with a thirteenth on route.
Two India-bound LPG tankers — Symi (19,965 tonnes of LPG) and NV Sunshine (46,427 tonnes of LPG) — crossed the strait on May 13 and May 14 respectively, both carrying cargo belonging to Indian Oil Corporation (IOC).
Symi was routed towards Kandla port and NV Sunshine towards New Mangalore port, both key LPG receiving terminals on India's west coast.
Over 40 India-bound ships had been stranded in the Persian Gulf at the height of the blockade, including 18 energy tankers, 16 fertiliser vessels, and seven general cargo ships.
An Indian-flagged commercial vessel, MSV Haji Ali, was attacked and sunk in Omani waters during this period; all 14 crew members were rescued by the Omani Coast Guard.
Traffic through the strait had fallen to approximately 5% of pre-war levels since February 2026, making each successful transit significant for India's energy supply chain.

Static Topic Bridges

India's Dependence on the Strait of Hormuz for Energy

India is the world's third-largest oil importer and depends on the Persian Gulf for a substantial portion of its crude oil and LPG requirements. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region — comprising Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain — collectively supplies approximately 60% of India's crude oil imports, virtually all of which must transit the Strait of Hormuz.

India imports more than 85% of its total crude oil requirements (approximately 5.5 million barrels per day).
Approximately 60% of India's LPG demand is met through imports, and the overwhelming majority of LPG tankers supplying India originate in Gulf ports and must pass through Hormuz.
The UAE alone supplies nearly 40% of India's LPG imports; Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) is among the largest LPG importers.
Kandla (Gujarat) and New Mangalore (Karnataka) are the primary LPG import terminals serving northern and southern India respectively.

Connection to this news: The successful transit of IOC-chartered LPG tankers through the blocked strait directly illustrates how vulnerable India's domestic cooking gas supply chain is to Hormuz disruptions, and why passage of each vessel carries national-level energy security significance.

Strait of Hormuz — Geography and Chokepoint Significance

The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow channel approximately 34 kilometres wide at its narrowest point, connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and onwards to the Arabian Sea. It is bordered by Iran to the north and Oman's Musandam Peninsula to the south.

Approximately 20% of global petroleum liquids and about 20% of global LNG trade passes through this strait annually.
The navigable channel consists of two three-mile-wide shipping lanes (inbound and outbound) separated by a buffer zone.
Three disputed islands — Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, and Lesser Tunb — lie near the strait and are claimed by the UAE but occupied and administered by Iran since 1971.
Only Saudi Arabia (East-West pipeline) and the UAE (Habshan-Fujairah pipeline) possess limited bypass capacity, insufficient to reroute full strait throughput.

Connection to this news: India-bound ships resuming Hormuz transit demonstrates how the physical geography of the strait creates an unavoidable chokepoint for Indian energy security — there is no practical alternative routing for most Gulf energy cargoes destined for Indian ports.

International Maritime Law and Vessel Safety

Under UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, 1982), all ships enjoy the right of transit passage through international straits. The attack on MSV Haji Ali raises issues of protection of merchant vessels under international humanitarian law and the law of the sea, including UNCLOS Articles 98 (duty to render assistance) and 100 (duty to cooperate in suppression of piracy).

UNCLOS Article 98 requires states to ensure ships flying their flag render assistance to persons in distress at sea.
India is a signatory to UNCLOS (ratified in 1995) and SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea Convention).
The Indian Navy has conducted escort and convoy operations in the Gulf region under Operation Sankalp (2019) in earlier Gulf tensions.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO), headquartered in London, is the UN agency responsible for maritime safety and security standards.

Connection to this news: The attack on MSV Haji Ali and the coordinated effort to facilitate passage of stranded India-bound ships highlight the intersection of India's treaty obligations, naval capabilities, and economic interests in maintaining open sea-lanes through the Gulf.

Key Facts & Data

12 India-bound ships had crossed the Strait of Hormuz by May 13, 2026; a 13th was en route.
Over 40 India-bound vessels were stranded at the height of the crisis, carrying energy products, fertilisers, and general cargo.
Symi carried 19,965 tonnes of LPG (IOC cargo) and crossed on May 13, bound for Kandla.
NV Sunshine carried 46,427 tonnes of LPG (IOC cargo) and crossed on May 14, bound for New Mangalore.
MSV Haji Ali, an Indian-flagged vessel, was attacked in Omani waters; 14 crew rescued by Oman Coast Guard.
India imports over 85% of its crude oil and approximately 60% of its LPG, predominantly through Hormuz-transiting routes.
Hormuz traffic had fallen to approximately 5% of pre-crisis averages since February 2026.
The UAE supplies approximately 40% of India's LPG imports.