Image for representation purposes only Nine India- and foreign-flagged ships crossed the Strait of Hormuz over the past 72 hours, with seven carrying cargo bound for India, as commercial shipping continued through the strategic waterway despite renewed tensions between the United States and Iran. The latest crossings bring the total number of ships carrying cargo for India through the Strait of Hormuz to 44 since the US-Israel and Iran conflict began on Feb. 28. Of the nine vessels, four were India-flagged and five sailed under foreign flags. Another 15 ships linked to India are waiting in the Persian Gulf for safe passage through the strait, including 10 India-flagged vessels, sources told The Times of India. Four of the waiting ships are carrying fertilisers, while one is transporting energy cargo. The India-flagged bulk carrier APJ Priti 2 crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday carrying 65,000 tonnes of fertilisers. A day earlier, Desh Suraksha, carrying a little over one lakh tonnes of crude oil, and Prabhu Parvati, loaded with 18,732 tonnes of cargo, also passed through the key shipping route. Tensions in West Asia rose again on Saturday after the United States launched strikes on Iran following a ship attack in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday. Iran later retaliated against the US strikes. Official data shows that only 19 India-bound ship transits took place between March 1 and June 17. However, the number increased to 25 in the 10 days after Iran and the United States signed a memorandum of understanding on June 17. According to people tracking vessel movements, the ships that have crossed the Strait of Hormuz since March 1 include 15 bulk carriers, 13 LPG carriers, 11 crude oil tankers and two LNG carriers. Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has continued despite the latest military tensions in the region. Fifteen more ships linked to India remain in the Persian Gulf waiting to transit the strategic waterway. References: TOI, News18