Nearly 3 lakh metric tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) are currently stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, as confirmed by Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Special Secretary in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. This situation has arisen due to multiple vessels carrying LPG being unable to move through this vital shipping route. Six ships, each loaded with around 45,000 metric tonnes of LPG, are currently immobilized in the strait.
The total of six ships stuck in the Strait of Hormuz accounts for approximately 3 lakh metric tonnes of LPG that are awaiting delivery to their destinations. The Strait of Hormuz serves as a crucial maritime route for global energy supplies, linking the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea. Any disruption in this narrow passage directly impacts global energy trade and supply chains.
The Indian-flagged LPG tanker ‘Nanda Devi’ recently docked at Vadinar Port in Gujarat, following the arrival of the first Indian-flagged ‘Shivalik’ at Mundra Port in Gujarat. The LPG carrier Shivalik, carrying a total cargo of about 46,000 metric tonnes of LPG, is set to unload 20,000 MT at Mundra and the remaining 26,000 MT at Mangaluru. These vessels are crucial for supplying LPG to India amidst disruptions in maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.
While Nanda Devi and Shivalik have successfully reached their destinations, another vessel named ‘Jag Laadki’ is currently en route to India carrying nearly 81,000 tonnes of crude oil from the UAE. This movement of essential energy supplies is significant amid the ongoing conflicts involving Iran, the US, and Israel in the region.
