<h2>Key Developments</h2>
<p>The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, in coordination with the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Directorate of Naval Operations (DNO) — the Indian Navy unit responsible for planning and executing naval operations, including maritime security and escort missions (GS3: Defence)">DNO</span>, the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) — the central ministry that formulates policy for petroleum exploration, production and distribution, crucial for India’s energy security (GS3: Economy)">MoPNG</span> and the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Information Fusion Centre–Indian Ocean Region (IFCIOR) — a joint Indo‑US maritime domain awareness hub that monitors shipping, naval activity and potential threats in the Indian Ocean (GS3: Defence, International Relations)">IFCIOR</span>, has earmarked 22 vessels for evacuation from the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Persian Gulf — a strategically vital water body in the Middle East through which a large share of global oil and gas shipments transit (GS3: Economy, International Relations)">Persian Gulf</span>. The move is aimed at averting disruption to India’s energy imports amid the ongoing Iran‑Israel hostilities.</p>
<h3>Vessels Identified for Evacuation</h3>
<ul>
<li><strong>20 energy‑critical vessels</strong> carrying <strong>2.15 lakh metric tonnes of LNG</strong>, <strong>3.21 lakh tonnes of LPG</strong> and <strong>16.76 lakh tonnes of crude oil</strong>.</li>
<li>Among them, <strong>10 are Indian‑flagged</strong> (including three LNG carriers, ten LPG carriers and seven crude oil tankers).</li>
<li>Other flags include <em>Marshall Islands, Liberia, Greece, Malta and Portugal</em>.</li>
<li>Two Indian‑flagged container ships are also slated for safe passage.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Recent Escorts and Arrivals</h3>
<ul>
<li><strong>Shivalik</strong> (LPG carrier) – partially discharged at <strong>Mundra</strong>, awaiting ship‑to‑ship transfer with IOC.</li>
<li><strong>Nanda Devi</strong> (LPG carrier) – docked at <strong>Vadinar</strong>, double‑banked with <strong>BW Birch</strong> for cargo transfer.</li>
<li><strong>Jag Laadki</strong> (crude oil tanker) – arrived at <strong>Mundra Port</strong> with ~<strong>81,000 metric tonnes of Murban crude</strong> from UAE; escaped damage when the loading terminal at Fujairah was attacked.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Humanitarian Aspect</h3>
<p>Approximately <strong>23,000 Indian seafarers</strong> are stranded in the region, including <strong>658 on Indian‑flagged vessels</strong>. To date, <strong>472 seafarers</strong> have been evacuated by shipping companies. Tragically, three Indian seafarers have died, four were injured and one remains missing on foreign‑flagged ships.</p>
<h3>Geographical Distribution of Indian Vessels</h3>
<ul>
<li><strong>22 vessels</strong> in the Persian Gulf (west of the Strait of Hormuz).</li>
<li><strong>2 vessels</strong> in the Gulf of Oman (east of the strait).</li>
<li><strong>1 vessel</strong> in the Gulf of Aden.</li>
<li><strong>2 vessels</strong> in the Red Sea.</li>
<li>The government‑owned <span class="key-term" data-definition="Shipping Corporation of India — a public sector undertaking that operates a fleet of tankers and bulk carriers, playing a strategic role in India’s maritime trade (GS3: Economy)">Shipping Corporation of India</span> owns six of these ships.</li>
</ul>
<h3>UPSC Relevance</h3>
<p>The episode illustrates several themes frequently examined in the UPSC syllabus:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Energy security</strong> – dependence on imported LNG, LPG and crude oil; the need for safe maritime corridors.</li>
<li><strong>Maritime strategy</strong> – role of the Indian Navy and inter‑ministerial coordination in protecting commercial shipping.</li>
<li><strong>Geopolitics of the Middle East</strong> – impact of regional conflicts (Iran‑Israel) on global energy markets and Indian trade routes.</li>
<li><strong>International maritime law</strong> – freedom of navigation through the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Strait of Hormuz — a narrow chokepoint linking the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman; over 20% of global petroleum passes through it (GS3: Economy, International Relations)">Strait of Hormuz</span> and the legal basis for naval escorts.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<p>To mitigate future disruptions, the government may consider:</p>
<ul>
<li>Strengthening <span class="key-term" data-definition="Maritime domain awareness – the effective understanding of anything in the maritime environment that could impact security, safety, economy or the environment (GS3: Defence)">maritime domain awareness</span> through expanded cooperation with regional partners and satellite monitoring.</li>
<li>Diversifying energy import sources and routes, including greater reliance on LNG terminals in the east coast.</li>
<li>Developing contingency protocols for rapid evacuation of vessels and seafarers during geopolitical crises.</li>
<li>Enhancing the capacity of the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Indian Navy – the naval branch of the Indian Armed Forces tasked with safeguarding India’s maritime interests and ensuring the security of sea lines of communication (GS3: Defence)">Indian Navy</span> for sustained escort missions in high‑risk zones.</li>
</ul>
<p>These steps will bolster India’s resilience against external shocks and safeguard its critical energy supplies.</p>
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