NEW DELHI,13 March 2026 : Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, a Liberian-flagged tanker, carrying crude oil from Saudi Arabia, has berthed at the Mumbai Port, becoming the first vessel to safely transit the Gulf waterway and arrive in India amid the US-Israeli war against Iran. The Shenlong Suezmax oil tanker, captained by an Indian, had passed through the conflict-hit Strait of Hormuz just two days ago.
Unrelenting Iranian attacks on shipping traffic and energy infrastructure have pushed oil above $100 a barrel on Thursday as American and Israeli strikes pounded the Islamic Republic, with no sign of an end to the war in sight. The India-bound ship reportedly crossed the war-hit waters after briefly going “dark” to avoid detection.
The Liberia-flagged ship loaded with crude had departed from the Saudi port of Ras Tanura on March 1. Maritime tracking data showed the vessel’s signals were last visible on monitoring systems inside the Strait of Hormuz on March 8 before they disappeared. This suggests the crew had switched off the ship’s automatic identification system (AIS) and transponders while navigating the dangerous stretch of water.
After successfully navigating the high-risk area, the vessel reappeared on maritime tracking systems the next day as it continued its journey toward India. Shipping companies often use this tactic, also known as “going dark”, to avoid the risk of being targeted or tracked by hostile forces. But the measure is only used in exceptional situations because international maritime rules require AIS to remain active for safety and tracking.
Picture credit social media
