Two more Indian-flagged LPG tankers, carrying almost daily supplies of the country’s cooking gas, have safely sailed through the war-hit Strait of Hormuz and are expected to reach Indian shores in the next two days.
“The two LPG tankers, BW TYR and BW ELM, carrying a combined LPG cargo of approximately 94,000 tons, have safely crossed the region and are heading towards Indian shores,” an official statement said.
While the BW TYR is heading towards Mumbai with an expected arrival date of March 31, the BW ELM is on its way to New Mangalore with an expected arrival date of April 1.
US and Israeli attacks on Iran and sweeping retaliation by Tehran have halted shipping through the strait – the narrow shipping lane that serves as a conduit for oil and gas exports from Gulf states to the world. But Iran said last week that “non-hostile ships” may cross the waterway after coordination with Iranian authorities.
Previously, four Indian-flagged LPG tankers had safely sailed through the strait.
Pine Gas and Jag Vasant, carrying 92,612 tonnes of LPG, arrived at Indian ports between March 26 and 28. Before this, MT Shivalik and MT Nanda Devi, carrying around 92,712 tonnes of LPG, arrived at Mundra Port in Gujarat on March 16 and Kandla Port in the state on March 17, respectively.
For a country that relies on imports from Gulf states to meet up to 60 percent of its cooking gas needs, the arrivals will help ease the worst LPG shortage it has experienced in decades. India consumed 33.15 million tons of LPG last year, with imports accounting for about 60% of the demand. Up to 90 percent of those imports came from West Asia.
With the strait almost closed, it gets LPG from countries like the United States and Argentina.
The statement said, “18 ships flying the Indian flag and carrying 485 Indian sailors are still in the western Persian Gulf.”
Originally, there were 28 Indian-flagged ships in the Strait of Hormuz when the war broke out in West Asia. Of these ships, 24 were on the western side of the strait and four were on the eastern side. In the past few days, six ships from the western side and two from the east were able to sail to safety.
Besides the six LPG tankers, the Indian-flagged oil tanker Jag Ladki, carrying 80,886 tonnes of crude oil from the UAE, arrived in Mundra on March 18.
Another tanker, Jag Prakash, carrying gasoline from Oman to Africa, had previously safely crossed the strait on its way to Tanzania.
LPG tankers Jag Vikram, Green Asha and Green Sanvi remain in the western Strait of Hormuz. One empty vessel is filled with LPG.
DG Shipping’s control room is working round the clock and has handled 4,523 calls and 8,985 emails since activation, including 92 calls and 120 emails in the last 24 hours, the statement said, adding that the safe return of over 942 Indian seafarers has been facilitated so far, including four in the last day.
Port operations across India remain normal, and no congestion has been reported, the statement said, adding that maritime boards across coastal states have assured smooth functioning.
