A crude oil tanker successfully completed a high-risk voyage to India through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, navigating through conflict conditions and electronic disruptions caused by the ongoing US-Iran tensions. The Liberia-flagged tanker Shenlong Suezmax docked at Jawahar Dweep near Mumbai on March 11 after travelling from Saudi Arabia with a shipment of crude oil. The voyage took place amid heightened regional tensions following US-Israeli strikes on Iran, which have turned the critical oil shipping corridor into a volatile zone.
The vessel departed from the Ras Tanura terminal on March 3 carrying approximately 135,335 metric tonnes of crude oil bound for India. It arrived at Mumbai’s Butcher Island terminal at 6:06 pm on Wednesday, becoming one of the first ships to deliver oil to India through the Strait of Hormuz since hostilities escalated on February 28. The successful transit comes at a time when global energy markets are under pressure, with disruptions in West Asia raising concerns over oil and LPG supply chains for major importers, including India.
During the journey, the crew encountered a complete shutdown of electronic navigation systems as the ship approached the narrow maritime chokepoint. Signals from the vessel’s automatic identification system and transponders temporarily disappeared from maritime tracking systems, partly due to electronic warfare techniques such as GPS spoofing and jamming reported in the region. With modern navigation systems compromised, the crew relied on traditional maritime skills to guide the tanker safely through the contested waters.
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The ship’s captain, Sukshant Singh Sandhu, described the voyage as uncertain and challenging, noting that GPS signals were repeatedly lost during the passage. The 29-member multinational crew, which included sailors from India, Pakistan and the Philippines, used manual navigation methods reminiscent of pre-digital maritime practices. After unloading its cargo for refineries in eastern Mumbai, the tanker is expected to depart for the Port of Fujairah, even as tensions and risks for commercial shipping in the Gulf region remain high.
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