The 20 Indian oil vessels that have been stuck in the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial chokepoint of the on-going US Iran war, are "proceeding cautiously", Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Special Secretary at the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said on Wednesday.
"Movement continues after detailed risk assessment by operators. Ships proceeding cautiously, factoring in evolving security situation," Sinha stated in a briefing.
On Monday, two Indian-flagged LPG tankers safely transited the conflict-hit Strait and are expected to reach Indian ports over the next two days, government officials said. These tankers are carrying nearly a day's supply of the country's cooking gas.
The LPG carriers, Pine Gas and Jag Vasant, which sailed in close proximity, departed the Persian Gulf on Monday morning and crossed the strategic waterway shortly thereafter, according to ship-tracking data. Together, the vessels are carrying 92,612 tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). The tankers are likely to arrive at Indian ports between March 26 and March 28.
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At a news briefing, Sinha said Pine Gas has 33 Indian seafarers on board, while Jag Vasant is crewed by 27 Indian nationals. Ship-tracking data indicated both vessels had sailed through waters between Iran's Larak and Qeshm islands, a route believed to help authorities identify vessel ownership before permitting transit through the strait.
The two tankers were among 22 Indian-flagged vessels that had been stranded in the Persian Gulf after hostilities in the Middle East severely affected movement through the narrow lane between Iran and Oman that connects Gulf oil and gas producers to global markets.
Earlier, two other LPG carriers, MT Shivalik and MT Nanda Devi, each carrying roughly a day's cooking gas requirement for India, had safely reached Indian shores.
Shivalik docked at Mundra port in Gujarat on March 16, followed by Nanda Devi at Kandla a day later. Both vessels had begun their journey on March 13 and crossed the strait in the early hours of March 14.
At the time the conflict escalated following US-Israel attacks on Iran, 28 Indian-flagged vessels were present near the Strait of Hormuz. Of these, 24 were positioned west of the strait and four to the east. In recent days, two vessels from each side have managed to sail to safety.
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