Three India-flagged ships cross Strait of Hormuz, safe passage secured, says Sarbananda Sonowal

📌 Summary:

• Three Indian-flagged crude oil tankers — Desh Vaibhav, Desh Vibhor and Sanmar Herald — safely crossed the Strait of Hormuz carrying over 8.6 lakh metric tonnes of cargo and 94 Indian crew, Ports, Shipping & Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said

• The tankers are en route to India: Desh Vaibhav (37 crew) to Vadinar and Desh Vibhor (27 crew) to Sikka, Gujarat, by June 24; Sanmar Herald (30 crew) to Paradip, Odisha, by July 1

• The Ministry said it is coordinating with all relevant agencies on "highest priority" to safeguard India's maritime interests, seafarers and "energy lifelines"

• Context: days before the US-Iran interim agreement reopened the Strait, three Indian seafarers on a Palau-flagged ship were killed in a US missile strike while transiting

• PM Modi raised seafarer safety with US President Trump on the G7 sidelines

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS3 — maritime security, energy security and protection of sea lines of communication (SLOCs); GS2 angle on India's diplomatic protection of citizens abroad

📝 Prelims Facts:

• Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman/Arabian Sea; a critical global oil chokepoint

• Indian destination ports: Vadinar and Sikka (Gujarat), Paradip (Odisha)

• Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways led by Sarbananda Sonowal

🔑 Key Term: Chokepoint — a narrow, strategically vital maritime passage (like the Strait of Hormuz) whose disruption threatens global trade and energy flows