Indian Navy launches Operation Urja Suraksha on 26 March 2026 to secure vessels in Strait of Hormuz

Key facts

• The Indian Navy (IN) launched Operation Urja Suraksha to ensure the safe passage of India-bound cargo vessels through the Strait of Hormuz amid the West Asia conflict.
• More than five frontline warships, including destroyers and frigates, have been deployed to escort merchant vessels carrying crude oil, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).
• The operation provides real-time navigation guidance and layered security for vessels moving from the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea via the Gulf of Oman.
• Merchant vessels are advised to display their Indian status through the Automatic Identification System (AIS) to avoid being targeted in the high-tension zone.
• The IN is coordinating with the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and the Directorate of Naval Operations to monitor maritime traffic and conduct ground assessments.
• LPG carriers Pine Gas and Jag Vasant, carrying a combined 92,000 tonnes of cargo, successfully navigated the strait under this operation.
• Other vessels that previously crossed the chokepoint under naval presence include the LPG carriers Shivalik and Nanda Devi, and the crude oil tanker Jag Laadki.
• The Iranian government has permitted the transit of non-hostile ships from friendly nations, specifically naming India, China, Russia, Pakistan, Iraq, and Bangladesh.