Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: Another Indian crude oil tanker crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, even as tensions around the waterway remained high. Maritime traffic data showed that Desh Garima passed through the strait, becoming the 10th Indian vessel to cross Hormuz since the war between Iran and the United States began, and the second since the ceasefire.According to the data, the tanker started its journey from Ras Laffan port in Qatar and is now in the Gulf of Oman after crossing the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, an AFP reports said at least eight oil and gas tankers crossed Hormuz on Saturday.The development comes amid confusion over the status of the strait. Iran said on Saturday that it had closed the route, just hours after foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said that Hormuz was open to traffic. A spokesperson for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya central headquarters said transit had been brought back under strict military control. The spokesperson cited repeated US violations and “piracy under the guise of blockade”.Shipping movement in the region has been affected since the conflict began. The Strait of Hormuz handles a large share of global oil shipments, and the disruption has increased risks for shipping companies, including higher costs, delays and safety threats to vessels and crew.Amid these concerns, the government on Saturday approved a Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool with a sovereign guarantee fund of Rs 12,980 crore. The scheme is aimed at dealing with rising insurance premiums and stricter approvals for shipping cover, which are now being given on a case-by-case basis due to the ongoing conflict.
