Two Indian flagged LPG tankers, the Shivalik and Nanda Devi, have successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz and are en route to India.
The Shivalik is currently carrying 40,000 metric tons of gas, while the Nanda Devi is loaded with additional fuel.
Sources describe the passage of the Shipping Corporation of India vessels as a highly coordinated operation conducted with Tehran’s direct cooperation. The successful transit is the result of intense diplomatic maneuvering. India’s External Affairs Minister held four rounds of talks with his Iranian counterpart to ensure the safe movement of Indian ships.
While the Shivalik and Nanda Devi have cleared the chokepoint, New Delhi is actively working to secure safe passage for more than two dozen other Indian merchant ships currently stranded on either side of the Strait of Hormuz.
Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Special Secretary in the Ministry of Shipping, confirmed during a media briefing that another Indian flagged tanker, the Jag Prakash, which is loaded with gasoline, has successfully set sail from the eastern side of the strait.
The stakes for India extend beyond cargo. There are currently about 23,000 Indian seafarers working across merchant, harbor, and offshore vessels in the wider Gulf region, making maritime security a paramount concern for the government.