Are Indian Ships Passing Through Strait of Hormuz? A Complete March 2026 Analysis

Executive Briefing (Update: March 18, 2026)

• The Core Question: Yes, Indian ships passing through Strait of Hormuz is true, despite the ongoing US Iran military conflict.
• The Method: The passages are not happening freely. They are being heavily guarded by Indian Navy warships under a massive escalation of Operation Sankalp, alongside intense diplomatic negotiations with Tehran.
• The Current Toll: While a handful of high-priority energy vessels have made it out, roughly 22 Indian-flagged merchant ships remain stranded west of the strait, waiting for military escorts or diplomatic clearance.

Since the military escalation began in late February 2026, the Strait of Hormuz—the maritime chokepoint responsible for 20% of the world’s oil—has been practically paralyzed. With international shipping lines halting operations and insurance premiums skyrocketing, media reports began circulating that Indian vessels were somehow slipping through the blockade.

To separate the rumors from the reality, we have compiled a definitive breakdown of exactly how many Indian ships have crossed, the military firepower getting them out, and the secret diplomatic deals making it possible.

The Data: Which Indian Ships Have Passed Through?

As of March 18, 2026, the Indian Navy has successfully secured the passage of three massive, high-priority energy vessels. These ships belong to the state-owned Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) and were prioritized to prevent a domestic fuel shortage.

Here is the exact status of the successful crossings:

Vessel Name	Vessel Type	Cargo Volume	Current Status & Destination
Shivalik	LPG Carrier	~46,000 Metric Tonnes	Successfully Escorted. Safely crossed the Strait and arrived at Mundra Port (Gujarat).
Nanda Devi	LPG Carrier	~46,000 Metric Tonnes	Successfully Escorted. Cleared the Gulf of Oman and is arriving at Kandla Port.
Jag Laadki	Crude Oil Tanker	>80,000 Metric Tonnes	Successfully Escorted. Had a narrow escape during an Iranian drone strike while loading at Fujairah (UAE); currently being escorted out of the Gulf of Oman toward India.

Note: While these three have crossed safely, there are currently 22 Indian vessels (including 6 LPG carriers) still stranded inside the Persian Gulf, awaiting extraction.

The Military Strategy: Operation Sankalp

How is India getting its ships out when other nations cannot? The answer lies in India’s refusal to rely on Western military alliances.

While the United States pushes for a multinational coalition to forcefully break the blockade, New Delhi has opted to operate strictly independently under Operation Sankalp. Originally launched in 2019 to counter piracy and regional instability, this operation has now been dramatically scaled up.

The Indian Navy has deployed two heavily armed task forces directly into the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. The escort missions are being spearheaded by India’s most advanced Visakhapatnam-class guided-missile destroyers:

• INS Surat
• INS Imphal
• INS Visakhapatnam

Equipped with BrahMos cruise missiles and advanced anti-air defense systems, these destroyers are physically shielding the slow-moving LPG and crude tankers from drone swarms and asymmetric naval threats. By sailing under the Indian flag and completely outside the U.S. coalition, India is explicitly signaling to Iran that its military presence is strictly defensive and non-hostile.

The Diplomatic Backchannel: The “Tanker Swap”

Military escorts are only half the equation. The successful passage of the Shivalik and Nanda Devi was largely paved by intense diplomatic backchannels at the highest levels of government.

On March 12, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a direct phone call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, stressing that the unhindered transit of Indian energy resources was a top priority. Concurrently, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has been negotiating to keep Indian vessels off Iran’s target list.

However, international intelligence sources indicate this safe passage is not entirely free. Iran has reportedly demanded a “tanker swap.” In exchange for letting Indian ships traverse the Strait of Hormuz safely, Tehran is requesting the release of three specific tankers—Asphalt Star, Al Jafzia, and Stellar Ruby (an Iranian-flagged vessel)—which India had previously seized in February for allegedly conducting illegal ship-to-ship oil transfers.

Future Outlook: A High-Wire Act

India relies on the Strait of Hormuz for roughly 40% of its crude oil and a staggering 90% of its LPG imports. The successful extractions over the last few days prove that India’s dual strategy—independent naval projection combined with pragmatic diplomacy—is currently working.

However, with 22 ships still trapped in the Persian Gulf and hundreds of Indian seafarers in the crossfire, the Indian Navy will be forced to maintain a grueling, high-alert operational tempo for the foreseeable future.

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