Amid the raging conflict in West Asia and severe disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz, a unique aspect of maritime diplomacy has unfolded in southern India. An Iranian navy landing ship has remained docked at the Kochi port in Kerala for the past six months, unable to return to its home country due to the rapidly shifting geopolitical landscape and regional hostilities.
Arrival for International Fleet Review
The Iranian warship arrived in India back in February to take part in the International Fleet Review and the multilateral naval exercise Milan-2026 held in Visakhapatnam. Once the drills concluded, the vessel prepared to sail back to Iran, but the sudden outbreak of full-scale conflict in West Asia drastically altered maritime security dynamics. Around the same time, another Iranian supply vessel sought refuge in Sri Lanka.
Technical Troubles and Humanitarian Shelter
Before reaching Indian waters, the crew of the Iranian ship reported facing technical difficulties onboard. Taking into account these mechanical hurdles, authorities in India permitted the vessel to dock in Kochi on March 4 purely on humanitarian grounds. When the ship initially arrived at the port, it carried a total of 183 personnel onboard, who were subsequently accommodated within Indian naval facilities.
While many have since departed or managed their deployment, more than 50 crew members still remain stationed in Kochi to look after the vessel. Some reports indicate that at least two dozen essential members are required on-site for the basic upkeep and operational maintenance of the ship. Management and oversight of the vessel's port stay have now been formally handed over to the Cochin Port Authority.
Defense of the Decision by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar
Addressing the entry and prolonged stay of the foreign military vessel, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar defended the decision on March 7. He emphasized that the circumstances were entirely different when the ship first entered Indian waters for scheduled bilateral and multilateral naval exercises. Noting that the vessel faced genuine distress and sought safe harbor as regional crises deepened, he maintained that granting entry on humanitarian grounds was the appropriate step.
