India has identified 22 ships heading to its ports for safe movement through the Strait of Hormuz as tensions in the Gulf region continue to affect shipping.

Most of these vessels are carrying fuel, making their safe passage important for India’s energy supply.

Officials said 20 of the 22 ships are crucial for the country’s energy needs. Together, they are carrying about 2.15 lakh metric tonnes of LNG, 3.21 lakh tonnes of LPG, and 16.76 lakh tonnes of crude oil.

These ships include both Indian-flagged and foreign-flagged vessels, but all are bound for India.

Out of these, 10 ships operate under the Indian flag. The rest are registered in countries like the Marshall Islands, Liberia, Greece, Malta, and Portugal.

The cargo includes three LNG carriers, ten LPG vessels, and seven crude oil tankers. Two Indian container ships have also been included in the plan to ensure they pass safely.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the most important shipping routes in the world. A large share of global oil trade passes through this narrow waterway.

India depends heavily on this route for its oil and gas imports. Any disruption here can affect fuel supply, LPG availability for households, CNG supply, and even fertiliser production.

Several government agencies are working together to manage the situation. These include the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, the Directorate General of Shipping, and the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

The…

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Israel carried out airstrikes on Iranian Navy targets in the Caspian Sea late Wednesday night, marking the first time it has hit this region since the war began.

The strikes targeted a major naval port near Bandar Anzali in northern Iran, where several vessels and key facilities were damaged or destroyed.

According to the Israeli military, the attack destroyed four missile boats fitted with air defence and anti-submarine systems, along with a corvette warship.

Several smaller support and patrol vessels were also hit. Some of the ships were docked at the port, while others were out at sea when they were targeted.

The strikes also damaged a naval command centre used to control operations in the area. Facilities used for repairing and maintaining military vessels were hit as well.

Israeli officials said the aim was to weaken Iran’s naval capabilities and limit its ability to operate in the region.

IRANIAN NAVAL INFRASTRUCTURE STRUCK IN THE CASPIAN SEA.

Targets included:
• Iranian Navy vessels, including missile ships, support vessels boats, & guard ships.
• A port command center from which Iranian Navy forces controlled naval operations
• Central infrastructure used… pic.twitter.com/8sNiWJzf9k

— Israeli Air Force (@IAFsite) March 19, 2026

Military officials said the missile boats, although based in the Caspian Sea, could still pose a threat to Israeli aircraft because of their anti-aircraft systems.

By destroying them, Israel aimed to…

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Gecko Robotics was awarded a $71 million contract by the U.S Navy to build wall-climbing robots and AI systems for naval ships of the Pacific Fleet.

This is a one-of-a-kind contract granted to a robotics firm; however, it will improve efficiency manifold, per Navy officials.

These robots will be able to reach difficult places on board, such as hulls, ballast tanks and confined spaces; crawling or flying to collect data which will be analysed by the AI-powered platform Cantilever.

It will identify maintenance needs and areas that need urgent attention 50 times faster and more accurately than manual inspections, claims Gecko Robotics.

In a documented case, a single robot inspection of a flight deck saved the company’s client over 3 months of maintenance delays.

This deal also signals a rampant advancement of robot tech and its entry into the shipbuilding sector.

Gecko operates around 250 robots across commercial and government customers, ​and plans to build ⁠50 to 60 more in 2026.

According to the 5-year indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract, the robotics company will work on 18 ships of the Pacific Fleet, including littoral combat ships, amphibious warships and destroyers with an initial award of up to $54 ​million.

The company said that it worked across the Navy’s surface fleet and on both Virginia and Columbia-class nuclear submarine programs.

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Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri has launched the “Viking Libra,” the world’s first hydrogen-powered cruise ship, at its Ancona yard. The vessel is being built for Viking and is expected to be delivered by the end of 2026.

The “Viking Libra” will have a gross tonnage of about 54,300 tons and a length of 239 meters. It is designed to carry up to 998 passengers in 499 staterooms.

What makes the vessel different is its propulsion system, which will use liquefied hydrogen along with fuel cells. This will allow the ship to operate with zero emissions in certain conditions, making it suitable for sailing in environmentally sensitive areas where stricter rules apply.

This project is part of the ongoing partnership between Fincantieri and Viking, which started in 2012. The total number of vessels linked to this collaboration has reached 26.

The continued orders show steady demand for modern cruise ships, especially those with improved environmental performance.

The Ancona shipyard, where the vessel was launched, plays an important role in Fincantieri’s production network. The facility covers around 360,000 square meters and can build ships up to 60,000 gross tons.

It has lifting systems capable of handling up to 500 tons and can construct hull sections weighing around 1,200 tons. Since 2009, more than 20 ships have been delivered from this yard, supported by a workforce of about 3,700 people.

The company is also planning…

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