Stranded Indian Sailors Under Pressure from Shipping Companies

Merchant Navy sailors from India reported being stranded near the Strait of Hormuz as rising tensions and conflicts in the Middle East disrupted global shipping routes.

In an interview with journalists, one sailor said shipping companies were pressuring crews to take dangerous risks by trying to cross the strait despite military threats. According to him, companies, especially those that operate only three to five ships, are instructing crews to turn off their ship tracking signals and sail in the dark to avoid detection. This tactic, known as “retreating into darkness”, involves turning off the Automatic Identification System (AIS) used to track ships.

The sailor added that many ships are currently trying to pass with their lights and monitoring systems disabled, which puts the crew in great danger.

The crisis began after Iran restricted traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical shipping routes and carries about 20 percent of global oil supplies. Amid escalating conflicts between Iran, the United States and Israel, commercial ships are being targeted by military strikes and drone strikes. Following warnings from Iranian forces, ship traffic dropped sharply and many ships were held up in nearby waters.

Indian government data and maritime reports show that around 28 Indian-flagged ships were stranded near the strait, with around 778 Indian sailors on board. Thousands of Indian seafarers working in the Gulf region may also be indirectly affected. The stranded ships include MV Manali, where around 20 Indian crew members are stranded near Iran’s Bandar Abbas port. Other ships, including LPG tankers carrying over 22,000 tonnes of gas, remained inactive for weeks. Some crew members refused to sail due to safety concerns.

The dangers have already caused loss of life. An oil tanker named Skylight was hit by a bullet in the Gulf of Oman and two Indian sailors lost their lives.

India’s energy security is highly dependent on the Strait of Hormuz. Approximately 40 percent of India’s crude oil imports and approximately 90 percent of LPG imports come from Middle Eastern suppliers. LPG cargo, sufficient for weeks, was delayed due to the ships being stranded. In response, India started sourcing alternative crude oil from Russia and other suppliers. The government is also in talks with Iran to ensure safe passage for Indian ships and some tankers were recently allowed to pass after diplomatic talks.

Maritime unions and seafarers argue the crisis has exposed deeper problems in the shipping industry, including pressures on ship crews to sail through war zones under the threat of being blacklisted if they refuse. Insurance coverage for ships in conflict zones is also lacking. As one stranded sailor told reporters, the crew felt their lives were being treated as disposable.

Approximately 20 million barrels of oil per day, as well as large amounts of LNG and LPG, are shipped through the Strait of Hormuz, which connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.

This article was written by Aditya Kumar Singh, an intern at Deccan Chronicle.