On February 27, after the ship was loaded in Ras Laffan, Qatar, about 300-350 kilometers (about 160-190 nautical miles) away at sea, the captain and crew were ready to embark on the voyage to India. “But with the reports and incidents of major air strikes, things came to a halt. We took shelter at a safe anchorage in a port in the UAE. We faced a lot of problems as the GPS started having issues and the instruments on the ship were not working properly. This heightened our anxiety level. We were watching the news to get updates on the ongoing war and attacks in the region. We were just following the advice and instructions of DG Shipping, Indian Shipping Lines and the Indian Navy,” the officer told TOI on condition of anonymity.
For sailors, in addition to the risks they face in a war zone, a greater anxiety is the depletion of drinking water stocks. “We have enough food to last more than a month. But drinking water is becoming an issue. Cargo ships produce very little drinking water while anchored, which is not enough to sustain the crew; for older ships, the supply of drinking water will be further reduced. We can sustain another 7 to 10 days just with the existing water,” the official said.
This is because the onboard water production system or fresh water generator on such ships is associated with the heat and electricity generated when the main engine is running.
Another major challenge is keeping the crew motivated and instilling confidence in them that the ship can return safely to India, as the government’s focus on rescuing Indian-flagged vessels is critical to its energy security. Cricket World Cup matches also help reduce pressure on the air on board.
After nearly 10 days of waiting at the port, the crew received the good news on March 13 (Friday) and could set sail that night. “We don’t have any information beforehand, but we know that the Indian government is working to ensure the safe passage of Indian-flagged ships. We are in touch with the Indian Navy, which escorted us after we crossed the Strait of Hormuz. We are not in touch with the Iranian Navy,” the official said in response to a question.
Bloomberg reported that the Iranian navy guided an Indian liquefied petroleum gas ship through the Strait of Hormuz, allowing the ship to pass on a pre-approved route after diplomatic contacts in New Delhi. According to reports, during the transit, the ship contacted the Iranian Navy via radio, and the Iranians learned in detail about the ship’s flag, name, departure and destination ports, and the nationality of the crew.
At least eight ships have reportedly passed through Hormuz this week.
