A crude oil tanker carrying Saudi crude arrived at a Mumbai port on Thursday after sailing through the conflict-hit Strait of Hormuz, a route where shipping has slowed sharply since fighting erupted between the United States, Israel and Iran late last month.
The Liberian-flagged tanker “Xinlong”, which carries crude from Saudi Arabia, became the first India-bound ship to safely navigate the sensitive route during the ongoing conflict. The ship docked in Mumbai on Wednesday evening after making its way through waters where attacks and military activities had brought maritime traffic to a halt.
The flight from Saudi Arabia
The tanker’s journey began from Ras Tanura, where it loaded crude on March 1. Two days later, the ship left for India.
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For days, the tanker’s movements were tracked by maritime surveillance systems as it sailed toward the Strait of Hormuz — the narrow channel that connects the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea and carries a large share of the world’s oil shipments.
Disappear from tracking systems
The ship’s last transmitted position inside the strait was recorded on March 8. Shortly after, it disappeared from monitoring systems.
Maritime sources said this indicates that the crew turned off the ship’s automatic identification system (AIS) while crossing the most sensitive part of the route. An AIS typically broadcasts a ship’s position, speed and identity, allowing ships and authorities to track movements at sea.
Read also The first oil tanker bound for India crosses the Strait of Hormuz and arrives at the port of Mumbai
Ships rarely disable this system because international maritime rules require it to remain active. However, in conflict zones such as the Strait of Hormuz during war, ships may temporarily turn off their transponders to avoid detection.
It reappears after the strait is cleared
The tanker reappeared in tracking databases the next day after it cleared the strait. Then it continued its journey towards India without interruption.
The ship arrived in Mumbai at around 1 pm on Wednesday and later docked at the Jawahar Dwib terminal, port officials said.
Praveen Singh, Deputy Controller, Mumbai Port Authority, said: “The ship, Shenlong, is carrying 1,35,335 metric tons of crude oil. It is anchored at the Jawahar Dwib terminal and has started unloading the cargo.”
The crude will be sent to refineries in Mahul, located in eastern Mumbai.
Crew and cargo
The tanker is owned by Shenlong Shipping Ltd and managed by Dynacom Tanker Management Ltd.
Officials said the ship had a crew of 29, including Indians, Pakistanis and Filipinos. The ship is captained by Captain Sukshant Singh Sandhu, and it is expected to take about 36 hours to unload the crude oil cargo.
The trip comes at a time when maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has slowed significantly due to security concerns. The narrow waterway, located between Iran and Oman, handles more than 20 million barrels of oil shipments daily.
Recent attacks have increased the risks. The Thai bulk carrier, Mayuri Nare, was hit by projectiles while passing through the strait after leaving the United Arab Emirates. The ship, which was heading to Kandla port, caught fire. Three crew members are still missing, while 20 others were rescued by the Royal Thai Navy and Omani authorities.
With ships waiting outside the area or diverting, Xinlong’s safe arrival in Mumbai represents a rare successful crossing through one of the world’s most sensitive sea lanes during the ongoing conflict.
