India Secures Safe Passage of LPG Tanker Shivalik Through Strait of Hormuz

The India-flagged LPG tanker Shivalik, operated by the Shipping Corporation of India, docked safely at Gujarat’s Mundra Port on Monday after transiting the Strait of Hormuz amid escalating tensions in the region. Another tanker, the Nanda Devi, is expected to arrive in Mumbai on Tuesday, marking the second and third Indian-flagged tankers to navigate the waterway since joint US-Israel strikes on Iran triggered hostilities last month.

The first tanker to reach India post-strikes was a Liberian-flagged vessel carrying crude oil from Saudi Arabia. The successful arrival of Shivalik and soon Nanda Devi, each transporting approximately 92,700 metric tons of LPG, followed intensive diplomatic efforts. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar conducted four rounds of discussions with Iranian officials, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian last week to secure safe passage.

The Strait of Hormuz, de facto controlled by Iran, is a critical maritime chokepoint through which about a fifth of global oil and gas trade normally passes. Following the attacks on Iran, Tehran mounted an informal blockade, disrupting crude and LPG shipments and prompting spikes in global oil prices past US$100 per barrel on multiple occasions. The risk to commercial vessels has been heightened by targeted strikes on shipping, including a Thai-flagged cargo vessel last week en route to Kandla, Gujarat.

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The safe arrival of these tankers is a key relief for India, the world’s second-largest buyer of LPG, which supplies cooking gas to over 33 crore households. Since the conflict began, concerns over domestic LPG availability prompted a surge in bookings and panic buying. Authorities have assured the public that there is no shortage, noting that LPG production has been increased by 28 per cent to meet demand, according to Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary (Marketing and Oil Refinery) at the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

India is also coordinating the safe transit of more than two dozen other Indian-flagged vessels currently stationed on either side of the Strait. A fourth tanker, the Jag Prakash, carrying gasoline from Oman to Africa, has already set sail from the eastern side of the Strait, officials said.

Authorities emphasized that while global oil markets remain volatile, domestic LPG supply is secure. Consumers were urged to avoid panic buying, as government and shipping agencies continue efforts to ensure uninterrupted energy supply amidst the regional conflict.

Also Read: US President Trump Says Nations Must Ensure Hormuz Strait Security