The Indian-flagged LPG ship Jag Vikram reached Kandla port on April 14 after passing through the Strait of Hormuz on April 11, officials said. The vessel is carrying 20,400 metric tons of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). She berthed at Oil Jetty No. 1 at Kandla Port late on Tuesday night, with offloading operations expected to begin soon. The cargo is expected to strengthen India’s LPG supply chain.
The vessel’s arrival comes amid ongoing monitoring of maritime energy supply routes in the region.
The transit marks a breakthrough for Delhi as it is the first Indian ship to pass through the strategic corridor following the announcement of a 14-day truce between the US and Iran aimed at cooling regional hostilities and restoring essential maritime trade routes.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and the Ministry of External Affairs are coordinating the return of a total of 15 Indian-flagged vessels stranded in the Strait of Hormuz.
Additional Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Mukesh Mangal said at an inter-ministerial meeting on Monday, “We are trying to bring back our vessels in coordination with the MEA. And once it is possible for our vessels to leave the Strait of Hormuz, these vessels will come back. At present there are a total of 15 Indian-flagged vessels there.”
Further, Additional Minister Mukesh Mangal gave a reassuring update on the status of vessels and crew members in the Persian Gulf region, stressing that no incident involving Indian vessels has been reported in the last 24 hours.
“We have not received any report of any incident involving an Indian-flagged ship in the last 24 hours. The ministry has so far facilitated the safe repatriation of more than 2,177 Indian seafarers, including 93 seafarers in the last 24 hours,” he said.
The ministry emphasized its commitment to ensure the welfare of seafarers and uninterrupted maritime operations, emphasizing continuous coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian Missions and maritime stakeholders.
“Traffic is normal at every Indian port and no congestion has been reported,” the ministry added.
The importance of the Jag Vikram passage is further highlighted by the fact that nearly 90 percent of India’s LPG imports come from the nations of the Persian Gulf region.
