19 India-bound energy vessels stranded in Strait of Hormuz: Shipping Secretary

New Delhi: Nineteen vessels carrying energy supplies for India are currently stranded near the Strait of Hormuz, Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Special Secretary in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, said on Monday. Of these, 10 are foreign-flagged vessels transporting cargo meant for India, while nine are Indian-flagged ships loaded with energy supplies.

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Addressing the media at an inter-ministerial press briefing on West Asia, Sinha said, “There are three vessels carrying LPG. They’re all flying foreign flags. Then there are four crude oil tankers, also all under foreign flags. For LNG, there are three, again all foreign flagged. But all of them are carrying cargo destined for India.”

Among the Indian-flagged vessels, three are LPG carriers, one is an LNG carrier, and four are crude oil tankers. In addition, one vessel is currently being loaded with LPG. These form part of a larger group of 18 Indian-flagged vessels awaiting safe passage through the Persian Gulf.

Getting Indian-flagged vessels out first priority: Official

Asked whether India would send vessels back to lift additional supplies, Sinha said the immediate focus is on bringing back Indian-flagged ships safely. “Our primary goal is to ensure energy security by safely bringing back loaded vessels flying the Indian flag to India first, unloading their cargo, and supplying it. That’s our top priority. So, at this stage, we’re not yet at the point where we’re sending vessels back,” he said.

8 vessels have made it to India so far from the Strait

Since the beginning of the West Asia conflict on February 28, eight vessels have successfully navigated the route and reached India. Sinha said that two LPG carriers — BW TYR and BW ELM — carrying about 94,000 metric tonnes of LPG are currently en route to India. BW TYR is scheduled to arrive in Mumbai on March 31, while BW ELM is expected to reach New Mangalore port on April 1.

Earlier, four Indian-flagged LPG tankers had safely traversed the Persian Gulf — Pine Gas and Jag Vasant, carrying 92,612 tonnes of LPG, reached Indian ports between March 26 and March 28. Prior to that, MT Shivalik and MT Nanda Devi, with 92,712 tonnes of LPG, had reached Mundra port in Gujarat on March 16 and Kandla port, respectively, on March 17.

In addition, Indian-flagged oil tanker Jag Laadki, ferrying 80,886 tonnes of crude oil from the UAE, reached Mundra on March 18. Another vessel, Jag Prakash, carrying petrol from Oman to Africa, had safely crossed the strait and is currently en route to Tanzania.

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The Strait of Hormuz has been almost shut following US and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, in which Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed. However, last week, Iran said that it will allow “non-hostile vessels” stuck in the Persian Gulf to cross the Strait of Hormuz. India has said that it will continue to stay in touch with authorities for the safe passage of its vessels stuck in the Strait on a case-by-case basis.

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