Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: Amid reports that Iran and the United States would be returning to negotiating table after weeks of deadlock to try and end the war, which has hit transit of ships through Strait of Hormuz, officials said an early resolution of conflict would come as a huge relief for more than 40 India-bound vessels and the large number of Indian crew members who have been stuck in Persian Gulf for over two months. These vessels are carrying LPG, LNG and crude, fertiliser and other cargo. Govt has said that 13 Indian-flagged ships are still in Persian Gulf. Several foreign-flagged vessels carrying India-bound cargo are also stranded to the west of Hormuz. Govt has drawn up for evacuation a list of 41 priority vessels — 18 are loaded with energy products, another 16 are carrying fertilisers and remaining seven have other items. There is a dire need to evacuate these ships for energy security and for meeting fertiliser requirements, which will go up for the sowing of kharif crops. Officials said that while efforts are on to persuade shipping lines to send their vessels back to Persian Gulf and a list of over 22 such energy vessels has been made and shared with agencies concerned, there can’t be any movement until the strait is open for commercial traffic. On April 30, TOI had reported that Union shipping ministry has shared a list of India-bound “priority vessels” with Ministry of External Affairs, suggesting the option of evacuating them through territorial waters of Oman. “Not just us, every country impacted due to this blockade is waiting for and hopeful of an early resolution,” said an official.
