India has redirected at least seven oil tankers carrying Russian crude—originally bound for China—towards its own ports, as New Delhi moves swiftly to secure energy supplies amid disruptions caused by tensions around the Strait of Hormuz.
According to a report by Bloomberg, the vessels altered course mid-voyage following a temporary waiver granted by the United States, allowing India to procure sanctioned Russian oil currently stranded at sea.
Ship-tracking data from Vortexa Ltd indicates that one of the tankers, Aqua Titan, is scheduled to arrive at New Mangalore Port on March 21. The vessel had initially departed from a Baltic Sea port in late January and was headed to Rizhao Port before reversing course in mid-March.
Another tanker, Zouzou N, a Suezmax-class vessel, is now en route to Sikka Port and is expected to dock on March 25 after changing direction earlier this month.
The rerouting comes against the backdrop of a near-total disruption in shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy corridor through which nearly 20% of the world’s oil and gas supply passes. Escalating conflict involving Iran has severely restricted maritime traffic, triggering supply concerns for major importers like India.
To counter the disruption, Indian refiners have rapidly increased purchases of discounted Russian crude, securing approximately 30 million barrels in just one week. This marks a sharp reversal from earlier this year, when India had reduced Russian imports to about 21% while pursuing a trade agreement with the United States.
India’s heavy reliance on imports—meeting nearly 90% of its energy needs—has heightened the urgency. The Hormuz disruption has already led to shortages in LPG supplies, impacting domestic consumption and forcing temporary closures of restaurants in cities like Mumbai and Bengaluru.
While a few Indian-flagged vessels have successfully navigated the Strait, around 20 ships remain on standby awaiting clearance. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar recently stated that India does not have a blanket transit arrangement with Iran for safe passage.
The arrival of these diverted Russian oil cargoes is expected to provide critical short-term relief, helping stabilize supplies and cushion the impact of ongoing geopolitical disruptions on India’s energy security.
