The United States is sending thousands of Marines and sailors to the Middle East as tensions with Iran continue to grow.

The deployment includes the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer along with its Marine unit and supporting warships.

Around 2,500 Marines from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit are being sent from the US West Coast, about three weeks earlier than planned.

With this, the total number of US troops in the region will rise to around 50,000, and there will be two Marine units ready for quick operations.

Officials said no final decision has been made to send troops into Iran. However, the current deployment gives the US more options if the situation worsens.

President Donald Trump said earlier that he is not sending troops “anywhere,” but also made it clear that he would not share details of any plans.

The focus remains on securing the Strait of Hormuz, which handles a large share of the world’s oil supply.

US forces have increased their operations in the area, targeting Iranian fast boats and drones that could threaten commercial shipping.

There are also discussions about possible action near Iran’s Kharg Island, which is used to export most of the country’s oil.

Additionally, the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford is heading to Greece for repairs after spending over nine months on deployment.

The US Navy plans to send the USS George H.W. Bush to replace it and maintain its presence in the region.

References: Reuters, TOI

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The Bombay High Court has allowed the owners of three ships seized by the Indian Coast Guard to send essential supplies to the crew.

The ships were detained on February 6, around 100 nautical miles off Mumbai, over suspected illegal transfer of petroleum products within India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

The court’s decision ensures basic support for crew while the investigation into alleged smuggling activities continues.

A division bench of Justices Ravindra Ghuge and Abhay Mantri allowed the owners to send food, water, and other necessities to crew members. The supplies will be delivered under strict security monitoring.

The court also permitted the companies, Balboa Shipping, Royal Princess Shipping, and Star Management Shipping, to assess the current market value of the vessels.

This valuation could be used if the court later considers releasing the ships against financial bonds.

The vessels, Asphalt Star, Stellar Ruby, and Al Jafzia, were intercepted by the Indian Coast Guard in February. Authorities had been tracking Asphalt Star since February 4 before stopping it at sea.

Investigators said the ships were involved in unauthorised ship-to-ship fuel transfers inside India’s EEZ.

Asphalt Star allegedly transferred around 30 metric tonnes of heavy fuel oil to Al Jafzia. It also delivered over 5,400 metric tonnes of high-viscosity bitumen to Stellar Ruby.

Officials reported that the vessels attempted to hide their identity by…

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Iran has started controlling ship movement through the Strait of Hormuz by allowing only approved vessels to pass through a monitored route near its coast.

In at least one case, a tanker operator paid around $2 million to secure safe passage.

Per reports, Iran is guiding selected ships through a route close to Larak Island, where its naval forces carry out checks before letting vessels move ahead. 

A basic approval system has been put in place, where ships must share details such as ownership and cargo before entering the strait. Once cleared, they are allowed to pass one by one.

So far, at least nine vessels have used this route. These include LPG carriers, bulk carriers and government-linked tankers.

Two India-flagged LPG carriers, Shivalik and Nanda Devi, crossed the strait around March 13 after getting clearance through official talks.

Per reports, they were allowed to pass without paying any fee. A Pakistan-linked tanker and a few other vessels have also taken similar routes.

However, not all ships are getting through the same way. In at least one instance, a tanker operator is believed to have paid about $2 million to ensure safe passage through the strait. 

Approvals are being handled case by case, and there are signs that Iran may bring in fixed charges for transit in the future.

Several countries, including India, China, Pakistan, Iraq and Malaysia, are now in direct talks with Tehran to make sure their ships can pass…

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A 43-year-old Indian Merchant Navy captain from Ranchi has died on board an oil tanker near the Strait of Hormuz. His family is appealing to authorities for urgent assistance in bringing his body back to India.

Captain Rakesh Ranjan reportedly passed away on 18 March after suffering a suspected cardiac arrest while serving aboard the vessel ASP Avana (RPSL-MUM-172), which he had joined on 2 February.

His family said the ship had been stranded approximately 14 nautical miles off the Strait of Hormuz since 28 February, following a halt in regional maritime movement due to the ongoing West Asia conflict.

According to his elder brother, Umesh Singh, the shipping company informed the family that Ranjan had lost consciousness and collapsed from his chair on board.

Efforts were reportedly made to provide medical assistance, but permission for an emergency airlift was not granted. He was later transferred by boat to Port Rashid in Dubai, where he was declared dead.

The family has claimed that delays in medical evacuation may have contributed to his death, stating that several crucial hours were lost before he could receive treatment.

However, they are awaiting the post-mortem examination report to confirm the exact cause of death.

Ranjan’s body is currently being kept under police custody at a mortuary in Dubai, with reports indicating it is at Sheikh Rashid Hospital.

The repatriation process has reportedly begun but is facing delays, partly…

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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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