LPG, oil tankers still reaching Mumbai despite Hormuz blockade by US; Here’s what helping them get through
The UNCLOS allows 'innocent passage' through territorial waters, complicating enforcement for foreign naval forces.
The United States' attempt to restrict movement through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz is showing signs of limitation, with multiple oil tankers continuing to cross despite heightened naval monitoring. The US Navy, positioned in the Gulf of Oman, has been overseeing vessel movement, but the effort has not resulted in a fully sealed blockade.
Reports indicate that several ships have managed to pass through the corridor, underlining the difficulty of enforcing strict maritime control in one of the world's busiest oil routes.
One recent example is the Indian vessel Desh Garima, which successfully reached Mumbai last week. The tanker was carrying nearly 97,000 metric tonnes of crude oil from Ras Laffan. Despite encountering hostile conditions, including reported Iranian firing along the route, the ship completed its journey.
It is not an isolated case. Since the blockade began on April 13, more than 30 tankers are believed to have navigated through the strait. According to reports, several of these ships have links to Iran or have been transporting crude connected to the region.
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Maritime observers have pointed to possible navigation paths that allow vessels to avoid direct confrontation. One widely discussed route suggests ships could move along Iran's coastline and then enter Pakistani waters via the Makran coast, before heading into the Arabian Sea.
Another option involves vessels staying close to Iran's shores before exiting near Chabahar Port and entering international waters. From there, ships can sail directly toward India's western coastline, including ports in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Karnataka and Kerala.
These routes highlight the complexity of enforcing restrictions, especially when ships remain within territorial waters where foreign naval forces have limited authority.
Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), ships are allowed 'innocent passage' through another country's territorial waters, as long as they do not engage in any harmful activity.
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Defence expert Sandeep Unnithan explained, 'There is no problem for a Pakistani merchant ship to pass through Indian waters and likewise no restriction for Indian vessels to sail through Pakistani waters. Even warships can pass through territorial waters, but they have to get clearance from the relevant State, which they may not get.'
However, geopolitical tensions and existing maritime restrictions between India and Pakistan complicate the practical use of such routes.
A retired Indian Navy officer indicated that Indian vessels are unlikely to rely on Pakistani waters due to political sensitivities. Instead, ships may follow safer routes through international waters after exiting the Gulf.
He said, 'Practically, the situation is more complex, because most of India's trade travels on foreign-flagged ships, and in times of conflict, insurance premiums rise sharply while many commercial operators become reluctant to enter the area.'
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He further added, 'Once a ship's passage through the Strait is cleared — often through case-by-case negotiations by the Ministry of External Affairs — the Navy is likely to meet it at a pre-arranged rendezvous point in the Gulf of Oman, safely away from both US and Iranian operational zones.'
The officer also emphasised that Indian Navy-escorted vessels would have 'no need to hug the Pakistani coast or enter Pakistani territorial waters'.
Despite claims from US leadership that the blockade has been effective, its limitations are becoming evident. Naval forces cannot operate freely within another nation's territorial waters without permission, restricting their reach.
While US Central Command has reportedly turned back or inspected several vessels, many continue to move through alternative routes. The continued flow of oil shipments suggests that enforcing a complete maritime blockade in such a complex region remains a significant challenge.
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The evolving situation in the Strait of Hormuz is likely to have broader implications for global energy supply routes and regional geopolitics, especially for countries like India that rely heavily on imported crude oil.
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