NEW DELHI: Amid escalation of US-Iran conflict, Indian ship Lila Vadinar, carrying 2.7 lakh tonnes of Kuwaiti crude, crossed the Strait of Hormuz on the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday. Earlier, it was asked to turn back by Iran’s Sepah Navy from the tip of Oman’s Musandam Peninsula, TOI has learnt. Another Indian vessel Maha Roos also transited through the Strait.Officials said that as on Thursday evening, seven India-bound ships — both Indian and foreign flagged with 149 seafarers — were waiting for evacuation, and these included six fertiliser bulk carriers. While one of them is loaded with about 45,000 tonnes of urea, the remaining are being loaded.India had expected evacuation of these ships from the Persian Gulf in the next couple of days. However, with the conflict escalating, vessel movement through the strait is once again restricted. In view of the situation, there is a possibility of govt taking a call of reissuing fresh advisories, cautioning seafarers and discouraging chartering of vessels to West Asia.Officials said five more India-flagged ships — two bulk carriers, one crude oil tanker, one oil/ chemical tanker and one dredger (empty) — are also operating in the Persian Gulf, but were not scheduled to exit immediately.
