Will Indian Ships Ease LPG Shortages? Two Vessels Navigate the Strait of Hormuz
Indian Ships on a Crucial Journey
New Delhi: Two ships flying the Indian flag, transporting cooking gas, are currently traversing the Strait of Hormuz, which raises optimism about alleviating LPG shortages in India amid regional tensions.
Tracking data indicates that the vessels, Jag Vasant and Pine Gas, have received clearance for safe passage through this strategically vital waterway.
These ships are loaded with liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), a common cooking fuel in India.
Both vessels commenced their journey early on Monday, departing from the UAE and navigating near Iran’s Qeshm and Larak islands.
Rather than indicating a specific destination, the ships have signaled their Indian ownership through their tracking systems, a precaution adopted by many vessels in this sensitive area.
If their journey proceeds smoothly, the ships are anticipated to arrive in the Gulf of Oman by Monday evening, as per reports.
Typically, a complete transit through the Strait of Hormuz takes about 14 hours.
This development occurs against a backdrop of heightened tensions in the Strait, a crucial global passage for oil and gas shipments, following US and Israeli strikes in late February.
Since then, Iran has imposed restrictions on movement through the waterway, permitting only select vessels from certain countries, including India, to pass after negotiations.
Shipping patterns indicate that Iran is managing traffic by directing vessels to navigate along its coastline.
Conversely, the usual route closer to Oman has become riskier, with at least one vessel reportedly attacked earlier this month.
Both Jag Vasant and Pine Gas entered the Persian Gulf in late February, just prior to the escalation of conflict.
Jag Vasant loaded its LPG from Kuwait, while Pine Gas took on its cargo from Ruwais in the UAE.
They had been stranded in the region due to the ongoing tensions until now being granted permission to proceed.
Earlier this month, two other Indian-flagged LPG carriers successfully completed similar journeys through the strait.