The ongoing crisis in the Strait of Hormuz has drawn attention to the complexities of ship 'flagging', particularly for Indian-flagged vessels. Flagging indicates a ship's registration with a country, subjecting it to that nation's maritime regulations. Indian-flagged vessels, registered with the Directorate General of Shipping, must adhere to the Merchant Shipping Act, which imposes a significant compliance burden compared to countries like Panama that offer the Flag of Convenience (FoC). While Indian vessels enjoy benefits such as lower port levies and government contracting priorities, they also face stringent regulations. During the current tensions, over two dozen Indian ships were stranded near the Strait, but the Indian Navy successfully escorted many to safety, with no direct attacks reported. The Indian flagged fleet has grown to 14.2 million Gross Tonnage (GT) as of March, with projections to increase its global share significantly by 2047 under the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.