Sources said an LPG vessel is also expected to pass through the Strait at 9.30am IST, and will similarly be guided by Indian naval assets once it clears the sensitive maritime zone
An Indian LPG carrier Shivalik, carrying over 40,000 metric tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), has successfully moved into the open sea after transiting the Strait of Hormuz, sources have told CNN-News18. The vessel is currently being escorted by the Indian Navy and is expected to reach India in about two days, likely docking at Mumbai or Kandla port.
Sources said another LPG vessel is also expected to pass through the strait at around 9.30am IST, and will similarly be guided by Indian naval assets once it clears the sensitive maritime zone.
The movement of Shivalik comes after intense diplomatic engagement between India and Iran to ensure safe passage for Indian-flagged ships amid the ongoing regional crisis. Earlier reports had indicated that India was in talks with Iran to secure passage for up to eight LPG tankers stranded in the Gulf region due to the conflict.
According to sources, negotiations helped facilitate the first movement of vessels, with CNN-News18 earlier reporting that transit would begin soon after talks progressed.
Diplomatic Push for Tanker Movement
India has been actively engaging Tehran to allow its energy shipments to pass through the strategic waterway. The discussions come as several Indian LPG carriers were stuck in the Persian Gulf after shipping through the strait was disrupted due to the West Asia war.
Reports indicate that Iran has permitted select Indian-flagged LPG carriers to transit the strait, including Shivalik and another vessel, as a special exemption during the ongoing tensions.
Crisis in the Strait of Hormuz
The development comes against the backdrop of the ongoing Strait of Hormuz crisis, which began after escalating hostilities involving Iran, the United States, and Israel in late February. The tensions led to severe disruptions in shipping through the critical energy corridor.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints, handling roughly 20 per cent of global oil and gas shipments, making any disruption a major concern for global energy markets and for import-dependent countries like India.