New Delhi/Vadinar, March 18: In a significant boost to India’s energy security, the Indian LPG tanker ‘Nanda Devi’ has arrived off the Gujarat coast carrying around 46,000–46,500 metric tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), successfully navigating the volatile Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing tensions in West Asia.
The vessel’s arrival marks the second such delivery in two days, following the docking of LPG carrier ‘Shivalik’ at Mundra Port with approximately 40,000 metric tonnes of cargo, underscoring sustained efforts to maintain fuel supplies despite regional disruptions.
Officials said the safe passage of ‘Nanda Devi’ through the strategically crucial Strait of Hormuz was facilitated by coordinated efforts of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, the Shipping Corporation of India, and naval assistance from both Indian and Iranian forces.
“The vessel safely navigated the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime chokepoint disrupted by the Mideast war,” an official associated with the operation said.
Contrary to initial plans, the tanker will not dock at Kandla Port. Instead, it will remain offshore near Vadinar, where the LPG will be transferred to smaller vessels, including MT BW Breeze and MT Jag Pratap, through ship-to-ship operations for onward transportation to Tamil Nadu, helping expedite distribution.
The development comes at a time when India, the world’s second-largest LPG importer, is facing supply pressures due to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, where nearly 20 percent of global oil and LNG trade passes. Reports indicate that around 300,000 metric tonnes of LPG remain stranded in the region.
Tehran has significantly curtailed maritime traffic in the Strait amid escalating conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel, leading to a sharp spike in global oil prices, which have surged by 40 to 50 percent.
“The arrival is seen as a major relief amid a domestic LPG crunch,” officials noted.
Meanwhile, 22 Indian-flagged vessels carrying 611 seafarers remain in the Persian Gulf awaiting safe passage. Another vessel, ‘Jag Laadki’, transporting about 81,000 tonnes of Murban crude oil from the UAE, is reported to be safely en route to India.
The government continues diplomatic engagement and logistical coordination to ensure the safe movement of Indian vessels and safeguard energy supply chains in the region.
