92,700 tonne LPG en route to India

Two Indian ships cross Hormuz, six more with LPG await

- SAURAV ANAND

TWO INDIAN-FLAGGED LPG carriers carrying about 92,700 metric tonne of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) have crossed the Strait of Hormuz and are now sailing towards Gujarat ports, offering relief to India's cooking gas supply chain as tensions in West Asia disrupt shipping through the critical energy corridor.

The vessels—Shivalik and Nanda Devi—crossed the narrow strait late Thursday night and early Friday morning and are expected to dock at Mundra and Kandla ports on March 16 and March 17, respectively.

Announcing the development, Rajesh Kumar Sinha, special secretary in the shipping ministry, said: “They safely transited the Strait of Hormuz and are now proceeding towards India. These vessels are carrying approximately 92,700 metric tonne of LPG; their ports of arrival will be Mundra and Kandla, with expected arrival dates of March 16 and March 17, respectively,” he said.

Sinha said of the 24 Indian-flagged vessels earlier positioned west of the Strait of Hormuz, two have now crossed. In all, 28 Indian-flagged vessels were affected, including four on the eastern side of the strait. One India-flagged tanker, Jag Prakash, had already crossed earlier. Jag Prakash was loaded with gasoline from Sohar port in Oman and headed to Tanga in Tanzania. It is due to reach Tanga on March 21.