Middle East crisis: Two India-bound LPG tankers crossing Strait of Hormuz | India News
Two liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tankers, BW Elm and BW Tyr, are currently transiting the Strait of Hormuz en route to India, according to LSEG and Kepler ship-tracking data cited by Reuters, signaling a precautionary resumption of movement through the strategic waterway. Shipping through the strait has been severely disrupted amid the ongoing US-Israel conflict with Iran. However, Tehran indicated earlier this week that “non-hostile ships” could pass through the corridor if they coordinated with Iranian authorities. Data shows that two Indian-flagged vessels have already crossed the gulf and are now on the eastern side of the strait. Their move comes as India steps up efforts to evacuate stranded LPG cargoes from the region. So far, four tankers — Shivalik, Nanda Devi, Pine Gas and Jag Vasant — have been evacuated. Despite these efforts, several Indian ships remain stranded. As of Friday, 20 Indian-flagged vessels, including five LPG carriers, were still stranded in the gulf, said Rajesh Kumar Sinha, special secretary in the shipping ministry. Additional carriers such as Jag Bikram, Green Hope and Green Sunvi are stationed in the western Strait of Hormuz, LSEG data shows. The disruption has raised concerns about India’s energy supply. India consumed 33.15 million metric tonnes of LPG last year, with imports meeting nearly 60 percent of its demand. About 90 percent of these imports come from the Middle East.
