Shadow journey gone dark: How an India-bound ship crossed the Strait of Hormuz. india news
New Delhi: One of the first crude oil tankers to reach Mumbai port after passing through the Strait of Hormuz since the start of the Iran-US conflict.According to news agency ANI, the Liberian-flagged tanker Shenlong Suezmax reached Mumbai port at 1 pm on Wednesday and docked at Jawahar Island at 6:06 pm. The tanker had loaded crude oil from Saudi Arabia’s Ras Tanura port on March 1 and departed on March 3.
It contains 1,35,335 metric tonnes of crude oil, which will be supplied to the refineries at Mahul in East Mumbai. The crude discharge process is expected to take approximately 36 hours.The tanker is owned by Shenlong Shipping Ltd and managed by Dynacom Tanker Management Ltd of Athens. The ship has 29 crew members, including Indian, Pakistani and Filipino nationals, and its captain is an Indian.How did the ship cross the Strait of Hormuz?Marine tracking data showed the ship in the Strait of Hormuz on March 8, before the tracking system was temporarily shut down. According to ANI, the ship switched off its Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponder while navigating a high-risk part of the strait.After navigating the high-risk area, the ship reappeared on maritime tracking systems on 9 March. Shipping companies often use this strategy, also known as “going dark”, to avoid the risk of being targeted or tracked.A transponder is an essential marine VHF radio system that automatically broadcasts a ship’s identification, position, speed, and course to nearby ships and shore stations to prevent collisions and improve navigation.Earlier, Alireza Tangsiri, commander of the naval branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, had said that ships sailing through waterways would have to seek approval from Tehran. In a post on Twitter, he said two ships that ignored Iran’s warnings were targeted on Wednesday.“Were the ships assured of safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz? This should be asked of the crews of the ships Express Rome and Mayuri Nari, who today ignored warnings, relying on empty promises and intended to transit the strait but were caught. Any ship that intends to pass must obtain permission from Iran,” the Iranian general said.Iranian state media reported that Tehran has extended restrictions on shipping through the strait, while saying that ships that do not serve the interests of the United States or Israel will be allowed safe passage.The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints, with more than 20 million barrels of crude moving through the narrow channel between Iran and Oman every day – accounting for almost a fifth of global oil consumption and a quarter of seaborne oil trade.Meanwhile, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said that 28 Indian-flagged ships are currently operating in the Persian Gulf. Of these, 24 ships carrying 677 Indian sailors are located west of the Strait of Hormuz, while four ships carrying 101 Indian crew members are located east of the strait.The ministry said a 24-hour control room has been functioning in the ministry and the Directorate General of Shipping since February 28 to monitor the evolving situation and coordinate assistance if needed.Officials are also working with Indian embassies, ship managers and recruitment agencies to ensure the safety of Indian seafarers in the region.


