Indian Oil Tanker Safely Reaches Gujarat Amid Middle East Tensions
Relief Amidst Ongoing Conflict
In the midst of escalating tensions and warfare in the Middle East, India has received encouraging news. The Indian-flagged oil tanker 'Jag Laadki' successfully completed its challenging journey from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and arrived safely at the Mundra port in Gujarat on Wednesday. Notably, this tanker departed from the Fujairah port on Sunday morning, just a day after an attack on the port's oil terminal temporarily halted operations.
Details of the Journey
Government officials reported that on March 14, 2026, while the tanker was loading crude oil at Fujairah's 'Single Point Mooring', an attack occurred at the oil terminal. India stated, "On March 14, 2026, the Indian-flagged vessel Jag Laadki safely departed Fujairah at 10:30 AM Indian time, carrying approximately 80,800 tons of 'Murban' crude oil towards India."
Third Fuel Tanker to Arrive in India
Significantly, this tanker is the third Indian vessel to have safely navigated through the conflict-affected region, following 'Shivalik' and 'Nanda Devi'.
Increased Tensions in the Region
These oil tankers have arrived at a time when tensions in the Middle East are notably high. Reports indicate that Iran has assured safe passage for Indian vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, while simultaneously warning of potential attacks on UAE ports.
Iran's Stance
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif stated that during the ongoing conflict, this crucial maritime route will remain closed to American and Israeli ships.
Previous Successful Deliveries
Earlier, two Indian-flagged LPG tankers—'Shivalik' and 'Nanda Devi'—successfully transported a total of 92,712 metric tons of LPG to India via the Strait of Hormuz. One of these vessels reached Mundra on Monday, while the other arrived a day later. An official confirmed that the second LPG carrier, 'Nanda Devi', safely docked at the Vadinar port in Gujarat on Tuesday, bringing 46,500 metric tons of gas amidst the ongoing conflict in the region.
Logistics at Vadinar Port
Sushil Kumar Singh, Chairman of the Deendayal Port Authority, informed reporters that 'Nanda Devi' has anchored at Vadinar port in Dwarka district, and preparations are underway to transfer the LPG to a smaller vessel (daughter ship). He mentioned, "A shipment of 46,500 metric tons of LPG has been brought in; this cargo will be transferred to a ship named 'BW Birch', which will later offload part of this shipment at ports on the eastern coast, including Ennore (Tamil Nadu) and Haldia (West Bengal)."
Transfer Process
He further explained, "The transfer process occurs at a rate of 1,000 tons per hour; therefore, it is expected to take two days to complete this entire operation." Singh noted that the port authority at Vadinar has been tasked with ensuring that all operations are carried out with maximum efficiency, as per the directives of the port ministry.
Government's Assurance
Gujarat Minister Jitu Vaghani stated on Monday that despite the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, the LPG carrier 'Shivalik' reached Mundra port safely through the Strait of Hormuz. This was made possible due to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's strong diplomatic relations with world leaders.
India's Oil Dependency
He informed the state assembly that despite the global unrest and tensions between Iran, Israel, and other nations, the vessel successfully navigated through the Strait of Hormuz. India relies on imports for approximately 88% of its crude oil, 50% of its natural gas, and 60% of its LPG. Before the attacks on Iran by the US and Israel on February 28, over half of India's crude oil imports, about 30% of its gas, and 85-90% of its LPG came from Middle Eastern countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE.