Three Indian-flagged oil tankers pass through the Strait of Hormuz

Vessels anchored in the Strait of Hormuz. File | Photo credit: Reuters

Three Indian-flagged oil tankers carrying more than 8.6 million tonnes of cargo with 94 crew members from the country passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday (June 20, 2026) and are on their way to India, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said.

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Three oil tankers – Desh Vaibhav, Desh Vibhor and Sanmar Herald – are expected to arrive in India between June 24 and July 1.

While Desh Vaibhav is expected to arrive at Vadinar port on June 24, Desh Vibhor is likely to arrive at Sikka port on the same day. Sanmar Herald, the third Indian-flagged oil tanker to transit the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday (June 20, 2026), is scheduled to arrive at Paradip on July 1.

“Three Indian flagged oil tankers, Desh Vaibhav, Desh Vibhor and Sanmar Herald carrying more than 8.6 Lakh MT of cargo with 94 Indian crew members have successfully passed through the Strait of Hormuz today and are on their way to India,” Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Mr. Sonowal said in a post on X.

“Under the determined leadership of Hon’ble PM Shri @narendramodi ji, GoI is working on top priority to secure India’s maritime interests. Our ministry is actively coordinating all relevant agencies to ensure absolute safety of Bharat’s seafarers and energy lifelines,” he wrote.

The United States on Thursday (June 18, 2026) lifted its blockade of Iran and allowed oil tankers to move through the Strait of Hormuz as a tentative deal to end the war came into effect. The canal was largely unusable for months, but traffic began soon after the agreement went into effect.

On June 18, President Donald Trump signed a deal with Iran that calls on Tehran to dilute its stockpile of highly enriched uranium and waive US-backed sanctions against the country, immediately allowing Iran to sell its oil freely in a major concession from Washington.

Published – 20 Jun 2026 21:27 IST