As many as 19 ships with LPG, crude oil and LNG meant for India are currently stranded in the Strait of Hormuz due to the escalating war in West Asia.At an inter-ministerial briefing on the fallout of developments in West Asia, Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Special Secretary in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, said 10 foreign-flagged vessels with energy cargo for India are currently stranded.Three vessels have LPG, four are crude oil tankers and three liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers.Besides, there are Indian-flagged vessels. These are three LPG tankers, one LNG carrier and four crude oil tankers. One empty tanker is being filled with LPG.The vessels were among the 500-odd ships that were struck in the narrow strait amid the widening West Asia conflict.So far, eight Indian-flagged vessels have sailed out safely. These include two LPG carriers, BW TYR and BW ELM, carrying a combined LPG cargo of about 94,000 tonnes, which safely transited the war-hit zone in the last couple of days, he said.While BW TYR is proceeding towards Mumbai with an expected arrival on March 31, BW ELM is en route to New Mangalore with an estimated arrival date of April 1, he said.The US and Israel attacks on Iran and Tehran’s sweeping retaliation have all but halted shipping through the strait – the narrow shipping lane that is a conduit for oil and gas exports from Gulf countries to the world. Iran, however, last week said “non-hostile vessels” may transit the waterway after coordinating with Iranian authorities.”Our first priority is to get Indian flagged vessels out,” Sinha said. “We are yet to reach the stage where we start sending back vessels (for refills).”He was asked whether India is considering sending vessels that have already discharged cargo at domestic ports back to Gulf countries to lift additional supplies.