Two more Indian-flagged LPG tankers, BW Tyr and BW Elm, began transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, said a person familiar with the developments, who requested anonymity.
The source said that ships do not reveal their destination ports through transponders for security reasons, and further details cannot be revealed immediately. He added that the two ships loaded their cargo in the Arabian Gulf more than two weeks ago and were searching for safe passage to Iran.
If the latter pair crosses the strait, Iran will allow six LPG tankers safe passage. No other details were immediately available.
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So far, four LNG tankers flying the Indian flag have arrived in the country after the Iranian authorities allowed them to cross the Hormuz Waterway, a vital sea lane through which a fifth of the world’s crude oil passes, along with gas and precious commodities.
Iran attacked several ships in the strait, effectively closing the vital channel for global maritime trade, in response to US and Israeli strikes.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian twice since the start of hostilities and called for de-escalation and dialogue. He called on Tuesday for the vital strait to remain “open to the world” for the passage of basic goods and energy.
India imports nearly 60% of its cooking gas, mostly from the Arab Gulf countries. An official at the Ministry of Petroleum said in statements to reporters this week that the country had increased the production of liquefied petroleum gas by about 50% to fill the energy shortage due to the West Asian war.
