Another Indian oil tanker transits Hormuz after Iran closes the strait to the US. india news
New Delhi: Another Indian crude oil tanker transited the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, even as tensions remain high around the waterway. Maritime traffic data showed that Desh Garima passed through the Strait, becoming the 10th Indian ship to transit the Strait of Hormuz since the start of the war between Iran and the United States, and the second since the ceasefire.According to the data, the tanker started its journey from Ras Laffan port in Qatar and is now in the Gulf of Oman after crossing the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, an AFP report said at least eight oil and gas tankers transited the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday.
The development comes amid confusion over the status of the strait. Iran said Saturday it had closed the passage, just hours after Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Hormuz was open to traffic. A spokesman for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya central headquarters said the transit had been brought back under strict military control. The spokesman repeatedly cited US violations and “piracy under the cover of the blockade”.Shipping traffic in the area has been affected since the conflict began. The Strait of Hormuz handles a large share of global oil shipments, and the disruption has increased risks for shipping companies, including higher costs, delays and safety hazards for ships and crews.Amid these concerns, the government on Saturday approved Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool with a sovereign guarantee fund of Rs 12,980 crore. The scheme aims to deal with rising insurance premiums and strict approvals for shipping cover, which are now being given on a case-by-case basis due to the ongoing conflict.