Indian Tankers Cross Hormuz Strait Amid Uncertainty
Two Indian-flagged LPG tankers, BW Elm and BW Tyr, successfully crossed the Hormuz Strait on Saturday, a day after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) declared the waterway “closed” to ships linked with the US and its allies. The safe passage of the two vessels comes as part of a larger trend of Indian-flagged tankers trickling into India over time, aided by diplomatic talks between New Delhi and Tehran.
The BW Elm and BW Tyr had kept their Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders switched on to indicate their Indian origin, allowing them to transit through the embattled strait without facing any harm. This development is significant as it marks a departure from Friday’s events when two Chinese-linked container ships were forced to turn back after attempting to exit the Hormuz Strait.
COSCO Vessels Forced to Turn Back
On Friday, two COSCO-owned container ships, CSCL Indian Ocean and CSCL Arctic Ocean, carrying Chinese flags, attempted to pass through the Hormuz Strait but were forced to turn back due to “special conditions” on the maritime chokepoint. According to a Kpler report, safe passage could not be guaranteed for these vessels.
The incident highlights the uncertainty surrounding the Hormuz Strait, which has been a major concern in recent weeks. The IRGC’s declaration of the strait as “closed” to ships linked with the US and its allies has raised concerns about the potential impact on global trade and energy supplies.
Historical Context
The safe passage of Indian-flagged tankers across the Hormuz Strait is part of a larger trend that has been unfolding over time. The Shivalik and Nanda Devi, two of the first vessels to exit the strait unharmed, led the way for other tankers like the Jag Vasant and Pine Gas, which docked in India earlier this week.
This development is significant as it marks a departure from Iran’s earlier stance on the Hormuz Strait. In recent weeks, Iran has allowed ships linked to five friendly nations, including India, China, and Pakistan, to cross the strait safely. However, Friday’s announcement marked a major change in rhetoric, with the IRGC declaring that it had “turned back” three container ships “of different nationalities”.
The uncertainty surrounding the Hormuz Strait remains, with speculation surrounding the identity of the third ship that was “turned back”. It is unclear whether this ship could be the Pakistan-bound Selen carrying the flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis, which was intercepted and stopped from exiting the strait on Thursday.
Original Article: 2 Indian LPG tankers cross Hormuz Strait a day after IRGC claims it ‘turned back’ Chinese-linked vessels- The Week — Theweek