Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: Amid the conflict in West Asia, the Indian Navy has “deployed more than five frontline warships under a mission named Operation Urja Suraksha” to ensure safe movement of India-bound cargo ships after they exit the Iran-controlled choke point at the Strait of Hormuz, sources in the defence establishment confirmed to TOI.The operation focuses on securing critical maritime routes and protecting ships carrying essential supplies, such as LPG, LNG and crude oil, to India. Currently, there are 20 India-bound cargo vessels that are stranded near the Strait due to the conflict.
“Once an India-bound cargo vessel clears the Strait, the Navy’s warships in the Gulf of Oman escort and guide the vessel out of the troubled zone towards the Arabian Sea,” a source in DG Shipping told TOI.Senior risk analyst Martin Kelly, head of advisory at EOS Risk Group, a security firm based in the Gulf, said, “It seems that Iran is allowing select vessels to transit Hormuz after verification which takes place during the ships’ transit inside Iranian waters.”The Navy remains in constant contact with the India-bound cargo vessels preparing to exit the Persian Gulf. Once a cargo vessel moves out of the chokepoint — with Iran’s consent — Indian Navy destroyers and frigates take over, escorting them out of the danger zone through a layered-security arrangement.This effort is being supported by an increased Indian naval presence in the Gulf of Oman, where adequate warships come in handy for the escort missions.According to media reports, US Intelligence agencies have alleged that Iran has deployed underwater mines in and around the Strait. These mines, capable of causing severe damage, put navigating vessels in danger. By directing Indian-flagged vessels along carefully-identified safe routes, the Navy helps the crew, who are mostly Indians, of the vessels chart a safe navigation path towards the Arabian Sea.The mission has already achieved key successes, with LPG carriers Pine Gas and Jag Vasant safely passing through the Strait under naval protection. Together, these vessels are carrying nearly 92,000 tonnes of LPG and are expected to reach Indian ports within days.
