Thirty-eight Indian-flagged ships carrying mostly crude oil and liquefied natural gas, with nearly 1,100 Indian seafarers on board, are currently stuck in the Persian Gulf as tensions in West Asia escalate into a wider conflict. Intense military actions in the region, disrupting one of the world’s busiest shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, officials said.

According to the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS), there have been “no confirmed instances of casualty, detention or boarding involving Indian-flagged vessels” so far in the region. DG Shipping briefed the ministry on the status of Indian flagged ships and Indian seafarers amid the ongoing crisis.

Officials informed the ministry that 24 ships are stranded west of the Strait of Hormuz and another 14 are stuck to the east of the narrow waterway, highlighting the severity of the disruption caused by the conflict in the region.

The DG Shipping statement also said that there have been four reported incidents involving Indian seafarers in the troubled waters, resulting in the deaths of three sailors and one injury. All of these casualties occurred on foreign-flagged vessels, not on Indian-flagged ships.

The crisis has affected global shipping, not just Indian trade. At least five tankers have been damaged since the conflict began, and around 150 ships are currently stranded around the Strait of Hormuz, maritime sources added.

The tensions in the Persian Gulf have forced many container lines to suspend services to West Asia. To avoid dangerous waters, several carriers have diverted vessels via the longer route around the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa. This move is increasing transit times and costs, and has also worsened congestion at Indian ports.

Sunil Vaswani, executive director of the Container Shipping Lines Association (India), said that many shipping lines have stopped sailings to West Asia for safety reasons but would continue services to long-haul destinations such as the United States, Europe and Mediterranean ports. He said, “Services to long-haul destinations will continue. Those going through Suez have rerouted through the Cape of Good Hope. Transit time will be longer but safer.”

Vaswani also pointed out that longer routes and the use of more vessels will increase operational costs for shipping companies. He flagged the congestion of cargo at Indian ports as an important issue, saying, “Containers continue to come in, creating congestion. Ports are working with us.”

Port authorities confirmed that around 1,000 containers are currently stuck at major Indian harbours because of these disruptions. The authorities are working closely with shipping lines to make sure cargo is loaded and unloaded in a timely manner to manage the backlog.

A shipping company official told reporters that vessels bound for the Gulf are now being terminated at regional ports like Fujairah, Sohar, or Khor Fakkan. From these ports, cargo is transferred by road or short feeder services. He added that the distance from Sohar to Dubai is about 170 km, which adds to logistical challenges.

Sanjay Pansare, an exporter and supplier, said that the disruption has left around 150 containers of agricultural products, including bananas, pomegranates, watermelons and onions stuck and waiting to be moved.

The Indian government is keeping close watch on the situation. Shipping minister Sarbananda Sonowal chaired a review meeting with officials, including DG Shipping, to ensure safety and security measures are taken for Indian seafarers and maritime assets in the region.

While the conflict continues to affect global and Indian maritime trade, authorities said they are focusing on safe crew movements and monitoring developments closely to protect Indian interests and personnel involved in overseas shipping operations.