The Indian government is considering several options to help Indian-flagged ships safely leave the crisis-hit Strait of Hormuz region as tensions between the United States-Israel alliance and Iran continue to disrupt maritime traffic in one of the world’s most important oil routes.

According to officials, all 36 Indian-flagged vessels currently located in and around the Strait of Hormuz and nearby waters are safe and have enough supplies on board. However, none of these ships has been able to pass through the region due to the ongoing tensions and security concerns.

PC Meena, Deputy Director General (Crew) at the Directorate General of Shipping, who is leading the government’s core response team monitoring the situation, confirmed that discussions are underway at the highest levels of the government to ensure the safe movement of Indian vessels.

“Discussions are on at the highest level on various options to help them navigate out of the region safely, including the option to escort India-flagged assets out of the area. Nothing has been finalised so far,” Meena said.

The situation in the region has become tense after Iranian forces threatened to attack tankers moving through the Strait of Hormuz. The narrow waterway is extremely important for global energy supply as it carries nearly one-quarter of the world’s seaborne crude oil trade. Due to these threats, shipping traffic through the route has been disrupted, leaving many vessels unable to move through the strait.

To deal with the evolving situation, the government has formed a core response group that closely monitors developments in the region. The team has been asked to submit situational reports every three hours. These reports include updates about the latest developments in the region as well as information about the condition and location of Indian seafarers and vessels operating there.

A second government official said that there have been no confirmed incidents involving Indian ships so far.

“There have been no confirmed instances of casualty, detention, or boarding involving any Indian-flagged vessels,” the official said, adding that authorities are focusing on monitoring and verification to ensure the safety of Indian ships and crew members.

In response to the security risks, the Directorate General of Shipping has also introduced mandatory safety protocols for Indian vessels operating in the region. These rules apply not only to ships in the Strait of Hormuz but also to vessels in the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, and nearby sea areas.

Under the enhanced safety measures that came into effect around midnight between February 28 and March 1, all Indian-flagged ships are required to conduct ship-shore security drills according to guidelines set by the International Maritime Organisation.

These drills include live communication exercises between ships and the nearest port terminals. They also involve mock drills that simulate possible threats such as piracy, unauthorised access to ships, and bomb threats.

Apart from these exercises, ship captains operating in the region have been directed to submit online ship reporting forms daily to the Information Fusion Centre–Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR). This requirement is part of the updated safety protocols.

Officials say this step is necessary to maintain accurate information about the location and movement of ships in the area.

“This measure is critical for maintaining a comprehensive and up-to-date vessel database, which will facilitate easier tracking and coordination at the centre if the Indian Navy is required to respond to the incident,” a 2024 notification issued during Houthi attacks in the Red Sea and reinvoked on March 2 states.

Authorities have also issued instructions on how ships should respond if they face a security threat.

According to an advisory issued by the crisis group on March 2 to shipping companies, if any Indian merchant ship comes under attack, it must immediately contact the nearest Indian Navy vessel or coalition warship using VHF Channel 16.

The government continues to closely monitor the situation as tensions in the region remain high and discussions continue on possible measures to ensure the safety of Indian ships and their crew members.