New Delhi, Apr 18: One Indian-flagged oil tanker crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, while at least four others trying to transit the choke point turned back after Iran signalled the strategic waterway was closed again.

Oil tanker Desh Garima appeared to have successfully crossed the Strait on Saturday, ship tracking data showed. The Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) tanker is the 10th India-flagged vessel to have crossed the Strait since early March.

As of Saturday evening, it was sailing in the Gulf of Oman, according to ship tracking data from maritime data and intelligence platform MarineTraffic.

MarineTraffic data showed oil tankers Sanmar Herald, Desh Vaibhav and Desh Vibhor, along with bulk carrier Jag Arnav, reversing course near the chokepoint, taking the number of India-flagged ships in the Persian Gulf to 14.

State-run SCI owns Desh Vaibhav and Desh Vibhor, while Sanmar Herald is operated by Sanmar Shipping and Jag Arnav by Great Eastern Shipping Company.

According to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, a tanker reported being approached by two Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps gunboats and fired upon about 20 nautical miles northeast of Oman.

This may have prompted the Indian vessels to turn back.

In New Delhi, the Ministry of External Affairs summoned the Iranian envoy to lodge a protest over the reported targeting of Indian vessels.

According to shipping monitor TankerTrackers.com, two India-flagged ships, including a supertanker carrying Iraqi crude, were forced to turn back after coming under fire.

The disruptions come as scores of commercial vessels and thousands of seafarers remain stranded in the Persian Gulf since the outbreak of the West Asia war on February 28, which has sharply curtailed movement through the Strait of Hormuz.

The Strait of Hormuz handles about a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas flows, making it one of the world’s most critical energy arteries. Iran’s ability to disrupt traffic through the narrow passage has emerged as a key lever in the conflict.

The halt in transit has driven up energy prices, triggered supply shortages in parts of the world and forced some countries to ration fuel, underscoring the global impact of the standoff.

New Delhi, Apr 18: India on Saturday summoned Iranian envoy Mohammad Fathali after two Indian vessels had to reverse course in the Strait of Hormuz following an incident of firing by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, authoritative sources said.

A strong protest was lodged with the ambassador over the incident, they said.

There is no official word yet on summoning Fathali to the external affairs ministry. Several commercial vessels tried to cross the Strait of Hormuz after Iran on Friday announced that it has opened the waterway for commercial traffic.

Tehran on Saturday said it has again closed the Strait of Hormuz, alleging that the US violated certain understanding reached between the two sides.

A vessel tracker reported that two Indian vessels had to reverse course in the Strait of Hormuz following reports of gunfire from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.

The vessels include an Indian-flagged super tanker, carrying 2 million barrels of Iraqi oil, it said.

Earlier this week, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar underlined India’s strong commitment to “safe and unimpeded” transit passage of maritime shipping, even as he emphasised that attacks on merchant shipping are “completely unacceptable”.

The EAM said this in his remarks while participating in ‘AZEC Plus’ online meeting convened by Japan to discuss supply chain disruptions in the energy markets.

New Delhi, Apr 18: A tanker transiting the Strait of Hormuz has reported coming under fire from two gunboats operated by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said, reports BBC.

According to the advisory, the incident occurred around 20 nautical miles north-east of Oman. The tanker and its crew are reported to be safe, with no immediate reports of casualties or major damage.

In a separate development, at least two other merchant vessels have also reported being struck by gunfire while attempting to pass through the strait, according to three sources cited by Reuters as reported by the BBC.

The incidents underscore rising security risks in the strategically crucial waterway, a key route for global oil shipments, amid heightened tensions in the region.

New Delhi, Apr 18: The government on Saturday approved a proposal to create a domestic insurance pool, Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool (BMI pool), with a sovereign guarantee of Rs 12,980 crore to facilitate continuous maritime insurance coverage.

The pool ensures that Indian trade continues to have access to affordable insurance for vessels carrying cargo from any international origin to Indian ports and vice versa, even when transiting volatile maritime corridors.

This was informed by Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw while briefing about decisions taken at the Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The government has approved the formation of ‘Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool’ for Indian flagged or controlled vessels or vessels destined to or starting from India, backed by a sovereign guarantee.

The pool would cover all maritime risks like Hull and Machinery, Cargo, P&I and War risk. The policies will be issued by insurers that are Pool members, using the combined underwriting capacity of the pool, which would be around Rs 950 crore.

New Delhi, Apr 18: The Union Cabinet on Saturday approved a 2 per cent increase in Dearness Allowance (DA) for central government employees and pensioners, offering relief amid rising inflation. The hike, which is linked to the Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (CPI-IW), will result in a modest increase in salaries and pensions.

Dearness Allowance is revised twice a year—typically in January and July—to offset the impact of inflation on earnings. However, this time the announcement saw a delay, drawing concern from employee unions, including the Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers, which had flagged the deviation from the usual schedule.

Alongside the DA hike, the Cabinet cleared several key decisions aimed at boosting infrastructure and economic resilience. Among them is the approval of a ₹13,000 crore Sovereign Maritime Fund, designed to provide stable and affordable insurance coverage for Indian-flagged vessels and ships operating to and from the country. The move is expected to strengthen India’s maritime sector and reduce dependency on foreign insurers.

The Cabinet also approved the extension of the Prime Minister Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) till 2028, with an additional allocation of ₹3,000 crore to accelerate rural road connectivity across the country.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister also took aim at the Opposition over its stance on the Women’s Reservation Bill, criticising its refusal to support the legislation and warning of political consequences.

The decisions are seen as part of the government’s broader push to balance welfare measures with long-term infrastructure and economic priorities.