India has initiated a discreet maritime security operation, codenamed “Operation Urja Suraksha,” to guide and protect its merchant vessels carrying critical energy supplies out of the Persian Gulf amid ongoing regional tensions.
According to media reports citing government sources, the operation is being conducted with minimal publicity and a high degree of caution following coordination with Iranian authorities to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
Officials said there were 22 Indian-flagged vessels with over 600 seafarers in the western Persian Gulf, along with three additional vessels carrying 76 Indian crew members east of the Strait. Of these, 20 ships have been identified as high-priority, as they are transporting LNG, LPG, and crude oil.
As part of the operation, more than five Indian Navy warships have been deployed in the Gulf of Oman. While the naval vessels have not entered the Strait of Hormuz, they remain in constant communication with merchant ships and provide navigational guidance after securing transit clearance from Iran.
Ships are being directed to follow specific routes closer to the Iranian coastline instead of the standard Traffic Separation Scheme, requiring precise coordination and adherence to instructions issued by naval authorities.
After transiting the Strait, vessels are met by Indian Navy destroyers and frigates, which escort them through the Gulf of Oman with additional logistical support in place.
The operation has already facilitated the safe arrival of several vessels, including LPG carriers Shivalik and Nanda Devi, and crude oil tanker Jag Laadki. Two more LPG carriers, carrying around 92,000 tonnes, were expected to reach Indian ports on March 25 and 26.
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and the Directorate of Naval Operations are closely coordinating the effort to ensure the safety of Indian seafarers and the continuity of vital energy supply chains.
