India LPG tanker: After Shivalik, another Indian vessel Nanda Devi, carrying about 46,000 metric tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), is set to reach Gujarat’s Kandla Port today. It is the second vessel to transit through the Strait of Hormuz amid the deepening crisis in the Middle East.
46,000 metric tonnes of LPG to help India fight crisis
Chief Officer of Nanda Devi vessel said that the initiative was taken by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and Shipping Corporation of India, with the Indian and Iranian navies providing the necessary assistance to cross the Strait of Hormuz, ANI reported.
He added that the 46,000 metric tonnes of LPG will help India in a time of worldwide crisis due to conflict in West Asia.
“I would like to thank everyone who was involved in this operation of crossing the Strait of Hormuz. The initiative was taken by the Indian Ministry, Shipping Corporation of India, with the help of the Indian Navy and the Iranian Navy. Vessel transmitted the Hormuz safely, now it is enroute to Kandla, Gujarat and will be serving a huge amount of LPG, 46,000 metric tonnes. This will help in the worldwide crisis of LPG. We will continue to serve the LPG in future also,” he said.
LPG vessel Shivalik arrived at Gujarat’s Mundra Port
On Monday, the LPG vessel Shivalik arrived at Mundra Port, carrying 46,000 tonnes of liquid LPG ordered by Indian Oil Corporation (IOC).
Of the total cargo, 20,000 tonnes will be unloaded at Mundra, while the remaining quantity will be discharged at Mangalore. The shipment forms part of IOC’s LPG supply movement to different terminals for distribution.
The vessel had earlier transited the strategically crucial Strait of Hormuz after being granted passage by Iranian authorities amid heightened tensions in West Asia. Shivalik was among two Indian-flagged LPG carriers — the other being Nanda Devi — allowed to pass through the vital waterway that handles a significant share of global energy shipments.
2 ships together carrying around 92,700 metric tonnes of LPG
According to the ministry, the two ships together are carrying around 92,700 metric tonnes of LPG and are headed to Indian ports including Mundra and Kandla. After their transit, 22 Indian-flagged vessels remained in the Persian Gulf region with a total of 611 seafarers on board.
India’s diplomacy with Iran helped ease Hormuz pressure
The development comes as India engages diplomatically with Iran to ensure continued maritime movement through the Strait of Hormuz. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has hailed direct discussions with Tehran as the most effective way to restart shipping through the vital oil chokepoint.
In an interview with the Financial Times, the Minister said, “every ship movement is an individual happening.” He also denied that Iran had received anything from India in exchange for allowing the vessels to pass through the chokepoint.
Jaishankar told FT that negotiations between New Delhi and Tehran, which allowed for two Indian-flagged gas tankers to pass through the Strait on Saturday, were an example of what diplomacy could bring.
He was referring to the recent transit of two Indian-flagged liquefied petroleum gas carriers through the Strait as an example of progress through diplomatic engagement.
Govt trashes reports linking release of tankers to Hormuz access
The government on Monday trashed reports that said Tehran is seeking release of three oil tankers seized by India in return for ensuring safe passage to Indian-flagged vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.
(With inputs from ANI and PTI)
