West Asia conflict: In the latest update from ship tracking data, two more Indian-flagged LPG tankers have commenced their journey from the Persian Gulf and are expected to cross the conflict-affected Strait of Hormuz before proceeding to Indian ports.
Two more Indian-flagged LPG tankers set to cross Strait of Hormuz
The LPG tankers ‘Pine Gas’ and ‘Jag Vasant’, which were sailing in close proximity to each other, were located on Monday afternoon near the waters between the Iranian islands of Larak and Qeshm — presumably to clarify their identities to Iranian authorities before transiting the strait.
These two ships were among the 22 Indian vessels stranded in the Persian Gulf following the war in the Middle East; this conflict had caused the Strait of Hormuz to be virtually shut down—a narrow waterway situated between Iran and Oman that connects the oil- and gas-producing Gulf nations to the rest of the world.
According to ship tracking data, the two ships could cross the strait sometime on Monday before heading to Indian ports.
Previously, MT Shivalik and MT Nanda Devi, carrying about 92,712 tonnes of LPG or roughly a day’s cooking gas consumption of the country, had safely reached the Indian shore.
Originally, there were 28 Indian-flagged vessels in the Strait of Hormuz when the war in West Asia broke out following US-Israel attacks on Iran. Of these, 24 were on the West side of the Strait and four on the East side. In the last few days, two vessels from each side have managed to sail to safety.
LPG carrier Shivalik reached Mundra in Gujarat
The LPG carrier ‘Shivalik’ arrived at Mundra, Gujarat, on March 16, while another LPG tanker, ‘Nanda Devi’, reached the port of Kandla, Gujarat, the following day. Both of these LPG carriers had commenced their voyages on March 13 and crossed the Strait of Hormuz on the morning of March 14.
Indian-flagged oil tanker Jag Laadki, with 80,886 tonnes of crude oil from the UAE, reached Mundra on March 18. Another tanker, Jag Prakash, carrying gasoline from Oman to Africa, had previously safely crossed the strait and is en route to Tanzania.
Of the 24 remaining Indian-flagged vessels in the war zone, 22 are on the West side of the Strait with 611 seafarers onboard, while two are on the Eastt side.
Six of the 22 remaining Indian-flagged vessels on the West side were LPG carriers — two of these have set sail for India.
Of the remaining, one is a liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker, four are crude oil tankers, one is transporting chemical products, three are container ships, and two are bulk carriers. Additionally, one vessel is a dredger, another is empty, and three are in dry dock undergoing routine maintenance.
Overall, close to 500 tanker vessels remain confined within the Persian (Arabian) Gulf. These include 108 crude oil tankers, 166 oil product tankers, 104 chemical/product tankers, 52 chemical tankers and 53 other tanker types.
Iran may allow select vessels
While experts believe that Iran may be allowing select vessels to transit the strait after verification. A few vessels have transited outbound through the Strait with a short diversion via the Larak-Qeshm Channel.
This, they say, appears to be a verification process whereby Iran confirms the ownership, cargo and vessel are not of the US or belong to those that Iran has permitted transit to.
India imports about 88 per cent of its crude oil, 50 per cent of natural gas, and 60 per cent of LPG. Before the war broke out, more than half of the crude oil that India imported came from countries like Saudi Arabia, Iraq and the UAE, which use the strait for shipping.
As much as 85-95 per cent of LPG and 30 per cent of the gas came through the strait. While the disruption in crude oil has been partially offset through alternative sources, such as Russia, West Africa, the US and Latin America, gas and LPG supplies to industrial and commercial users have been curtailed.
With agency inputs
