New Delhi: In a significant boost to India’s energy security amid escalating tensions in West Asia, two Indian-flagged LPG tankers carrying nearly 93,000 metric tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) have safely crossed the strategic Strait of Hormuz and are arriving at ports in Gujarat.

The LPG tanker Shivalik, owned by the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI), docked at Mundra Port in Kutch district at around 9 AM on Monday after sailing from Ras Laffan port in Qatar. The vessel is carrying approximately 40,000 metric tonnes of LPG, which will help ease pressure on India’s domestic cooking gas supply at a time when global energy supply chains remain uncertain.

Another Indian-flagged tanker, Nanda Devi, which also departed from Ras Laffan, is already off Gujarat coast and expected to reach Kandla Port in Gujarat on March 17 at around 6:30 AM. The vessel is transporting around 46,000 metric tonnes of LPG.

Together, the two Very Large Gas Carriers (VLGCs) are bringing about 92,700 metric tonnes of LPG, sufficient to fill nearly 68 lakh domestic cylinders, compared with India’s average daily consumption of around 55 lakh cylinders.

Diplomatic coordination enabled safe passage

Both vessels were among 24 Indian ships stranded in the Persian Gulf due to the intensifying conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States, which has severely disrupted maritime traffic in the region.

The tankers managed to cross the Strait of Hormuz under special diplomatic arrangements between India and Iran, after multiple rounds of negotiations. Indian officials said the ships were escorted by the Indian Navy, ensuring safe navigation through the volatile waters.

Iran had earlier restricted movement through the strait amid the conflict but allowed the Indian vessels to pass, after telephone talks between leaders of two countries.

Strait of Hormuz remains a critical chokepoint

The Strait of Hormuz, connecting the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea, is one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints, carrying nearly one-fifth of global oil supplies along with significant volumes of LNG and LPG.

Since the escalation of the Israel-Iran confrontation, Iranian forces — including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) — have targeted commercial shipping using drones, missiles and naval mines, leading to several tanker fires and pushing global energy prices higher.

Many Indian vessels still stranded

Despite the successful arrival of the two LPG tankers, 22 Indian-flagged ships remain in the Persian Gulf, awaiting safe transit through the strait.

These vessels are carrying a mix of energy cargo including:

• 415,000 tonnes of LPG
• 215,000 tonnes of LNG
• 1.75 million tonnes of crude oil

Over 600 Indian sailors are currently aboard these ships.

Eight of the vessels belong to the Shipping Corporation of India, highlighting the state-run firm’s major role in transporting India’s energy imports.