The Indian government, through the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, announced on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, that six Indian-flagged vessels are currently positioned west of the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. This confirmation comes amidst ongoing tensions and increased maritime security risks in the region.
According to the ministry's statement, two of these vessels are container ships, identified as CMA CGM DIAMOND and CMA CGM MANAUS, both carrying general cargo. The remaining four Indian-flagged vessels are engaged in trade within the Gulf region and, as of July 17, 2026, do not require immediate exit from the area. Coordinated efforts are actively being pursued to ensure the safe evacuation of the vessels that need to transit the volatile waterway.
Maritime Traffic Declines Amid Regional Hostilities
The confirmation highlights the challenging environment for maritime operations in the Strait of Hormuz. Consolidated data released by the ministry shows that since March 1, 2026, a total of 59 vessels—comprising 23 Indian-flagged and 36 foreign-flagged ships carrying cargo destined for India—have successfully transited the Strait. However, recent analysis by S&P Global Commodities at Sea indicates a significant downturn in overall traffic.
Between July 17 and July 19, 2026, only 40 vessels crossed the Strait of Hormuz, averaging just 13 transits per day. This depressed level of activity is attributed to continuing hostilities between the United States and Iran, including US strikes against Iranian targets and reported Iranian attacks on Gulf states. The weekly crossings for the period ending July 19, 2026, plummeted to 127, an almost 50% decline from the 248 crossings recorded in the previous week, underscoring the severe impact of heightened security risks on vessel movements.
Recent Incidents Raise Alarm
The region has seen several concerning incidents. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) center reported an attack on July 20, 2026, where a vessel was struck by an unidentified projectile approximately eight nautical miles northwest of Kumzar, Oman. The crew subsequently abandoned the burning ship. This followed another incident on July 17, 2026, when a tanker operating 19 nautical miles off Khasab, Oman, sustained minor structural damage after being hit by an unidentified projectile.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) identified the vessel involved in the July 17 incident as the Marshall Islands-flagged MR vessel IDI, which had last loaded cargo in Jubail, Saudi Arabia, on July 12, 2026. The tanker reportedly transited outbound on July 19, 2026, and was last observed anchored off Fujairah on July 20, 2026. These events underscore the urgent need for enhanced security and coordinated international efforts to safeguard maritime passage through this critical global chokepoint.