Indian and Pakistani Ships Navigate Strait of Hormuz as Iran Grants Selective Access
Two Indian LPG carriers belonging to the state-owned Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) — Shivalik and Nanda Devi — crossed the Strait of Hormuz and discharged their LPG cargo at Indian ports, among the first vessels to transit after the 2026 crisis began.
A Pakistani crude oil tanker, Karachi (109,990 DWT), owned by Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC), also transited the strait on March 15.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced that vessels belonging to five nations — India, China, Russia, Iraq, and Pakistan — would be granted safe passage, distinguishing them from "hostile" nations' ships.
The Iranian Navy guided at least one Indian LPG tanker through the strait on a pre-approved route following diplomatic engagement by New Delhi.
Between March 14 and 24, five Indian-flagged LPG carriers exited the strait in three separate operations, each escorted by Indian Navy warships through the Gulf of Oman.
The passages demonstrate that India's simultaneous engagement with Iran (diplomatically) and the Gulf monarchies (economically) has yielded tangible energy security dividends.
Strait of Hormuz: Geography and Strategic Significance
The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. Flanked by Iran to the north and Oman and UAE to the south, it is at its narrowest approximately 24 miles wide, with navigable shipping lanes just 2 miles wide in each direction. The strait is the sole maritime exit for the oil exports of Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar, and Bahrain — together accounting for the majority of OPEC production.
India and Pakistan, both large energy importers dependent on Gulf oil, had their ships permitted passage precisely because Iran chose to engage them as "non-hostile" states — illustrating how geography and geopolitics intertwine in determining energy access.
India–Iran Relations: Navigating Strategic Autonomy
India and Iran share long historical and civilisational ties, and India has maintained engagement with Tehran even as Western sanctions have increased pressure to isolate it. This has enabled New Delhi to pursue pragmatic diplomacy during the 2026 crisis to secure energy passage rights, distinct from the positions of Western nations.
India's receipt of safe-passage rights for its merchant vessels — while many other nations' ships were stranded — is a direct result of this sustained diplomatic engagement, including New Delhi's refusal to formally condemn Iran's position.
Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) and State-Owned Maritime Logistics
The Shipping Corporation of India (SCI), established in 1961 and under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, is India's largest shipping company. It operates a fleet spanning crude oil tankers, LPG carriers, bulk carriers, and container ships. SCI's state ownership makes it both a commercial entity and an instrument of national energy policy in emergencies.
Key Details
- SCI is listed on stock exchanges and operates as a PSU (Public Sector Undertaking); the government holds a majority stake.
- The fleet includes Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs), LPG carriers, and product tankers.
- SCI vessels are classified as Indian-flagged, qualifying them for protections under India's bilateral diplomatic engagements.
- SCI was partially disinvested in 2023–24 as part of the government's privatisation agenda, though strategic control remains with the state.
It was SCI's Shivalik and Nanda Devi that first re-established the Indian shipping corridor through the Strait of Hormuz, with the state's ownership facilitating government-backed diplomatic cover for the transit.
- SCI vessels Shivalik and Nanda Devi: first Indian ships to cross the strait post-crisis (around March 13-14, 2026).
- Pakistani tanker Karachi: 109,990 DWT, owned by PNSC, transited March 15.
- Five nations granted passage by Iran: India, China, Russia, Iraq, Pakistan.
- Five Indian LPG carriers evacuated between March 14–24 in three batches, each Indian Navy-escorted.
- Iran guided at least one Indian tanker through a pre-approved route after diplomatic clearance.
- The 2026 Hormuz crisis began February 28 following US-Israel strikes on Iranian territory.
- Strait of Hormuz: ~24 miles at narrowest, two 2-mile shipping lanes, processes ~20% of global oil.