Amid rising tensions in the Persian Gulf due to the Iran-US conflict, two LPG carriers from the UAE and one crude oil tanker from Saudi Arabia are on their way to India to help bridge the energy supply gap, officials familiar with the matter said. The situation has also prompted Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh Tripathi to cancel his scheduled visit to Australia and New Zealand.
Indian-flagged vessels MV Jag Vasant and MV Pine Gas departed from UAE ports early Monday morning after receiving clearance from Iran to pass through the strategically crucial Strait of Hormuz. Sailing just five nautical miles apart, the two ships safely crossed the strait later in the evening.
According to the shipping ministry, the vessels are carrying a combined 92,612.59 metric tonnes of LPG. Jag Vasant, with 33 Indian crew members on board, is expected to arrive at Kandla port on March 26, while Pine Gas, carrying 27 Indian seafarers, is scheduled to reach New Mangalore on March 28.
In the Gulf of Oman, the LPG carriers will be escorted by Indian Navy warships for 24 hours to ensure their safe passage before proceeding towards India’s western ports.
Meanwhile, a crude oil tanker, MT Kallista, is being loaded at Yanbu port in Saudi Arabia and is set to depart on Tuesday for Paradip port via Jeddah. The Panama-flagged vessel will also receive naval escort through the Gulf of Aden, coordinated with the petroleum ministry.
With ongoing missile and drone attacks in the region, Indian crew members aboard vessels in the conflict zone are under considerable stress. Authorities and ship operators are maintaining regular communication with them to ensure their safety and morale.
The escalating crisis and its implications for India’s energy security led Admiral Tripathi to cancel his overseas visit scheduled between March 19 and 23.
While India has not paid any fee to Iran for allowing the LPG vessels to pass, reports suggested that Iranian authorities are not permitting Indian warships to escort vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. However, the Iranian Embassy in India has denied claims that Tehran is demanding $2 million per vessel for transit.
To safeguard Indian shipping, the government has directed the Navy to deploy Kolkata-class destroyers in the Gulf of Oman and the Gulf of Aden. Captains of Indian-flagged ships are being regularly contacted and reassured that naval assistance is readily available.
