New Delhi: The Indian LPG carrier Nanda Devi arrived in Gujarat on Tuesday carrying about 45,000 metric tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas after successfully crossing the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
The vessel docked at Vadinar Port, where the cargo will be unloaded. The tanker had originally been scheduled to arrive at Kandla Port, but authorities later redirected it to Vadinar.
A day earlier, another Indian flagged LPG carrier, Shivalik, safely reached Mundra Port, delivering approximately 45,000 to 46,000 tonnes of LPG. The arrival of these vessels comes at a time when shipping routes in the region are facing disruptions due to ongoing geopolitical tensions.
Government figures indicate that 22 Indian flagged ships are currently operating west of the Strait of Hormuz, with a total of 611 Indian seafarers onboard. Authorities have stated that these vessels and their crews remain safe while continuing operations in the region.
Another tanker, Jag Laadki, is currently en route to Mundra Port from the United Arab Emirates carrying nearly 81,000 tonnes of crude oil. Officials said the vessel is proceeding normally and that its crew is safe.
India depends heavily on energy imports to meet domestic demand. The country imports roughly 88 percent of its crude oil, about 50 percent of its natural gas and around 60 percent of its LPG. A significant portion of these supplies traditionally comes from West Asian producers such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
However, shipments through the Strait of Hormuz have been affected by recent regional tensions following military strikes involving Iran, the United States, and Israel.
While India has partly addressed crude oil shortages by increasing imports from Russia, disruptions in gas and LPG shipments have begun affecting industrial users as well as commercial sectors such as hotels and restaurants. The safe arrival of vessels like Nanda Devi and Shivalik therefore remains crucial for maintaining steady energy supplies.
