Visuals of the Indian LPG carrier Pine Gas recently crossing the war-torn Strait of Hormuz surfaced on social media on Tuesday, March 24. The photos were shared a day after the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways confirmed that two Indian LPG carriers, Jag Vasant and Pine Gas, had passed through the Strait of Hormuz.
News agency ANI shared visuals of the Pine Gas LPG Carrier, citing the Indian government as the source.
What we know so far about Pine Gas and Jag Vasant
The LPG tankers Pine Gas and Jag Vasant, sailing close together, took off from the Persian Gulf on Monday morning before crossing the strait, news agency PTI reported. They reportedly carried roughly a day’s supply of natural gas for cooking.
Two Indian-flagged tankers were loaded at berths in Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, LSEG ship tracking data showed, according to Reuters.
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The Pine Gas, which loaded in UAE waters, sailed through the strait followed by the Jag Vasant carrying LPG from Kuwait, MarineTraffic ship tracking data showed.
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has confirmed that two tankers carrying more than 92,000 tonnes of LPG have passed through Hormuz and are expected to arrive at ports in India between March 26 and 28.
The vessels carrying 92,612.59 MT of LPG have 33 and 27 Indian seamen on board, respectively, Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Special Secretary in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, said at a press conference on Monday.
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“These vessels are bound for India and are likely to arrive at the ports between March 26 and 28, 2026,” the ministry added.
Pine Gas broadcast a message identifying itself as “Indian ship and crew,” LSEG ship tracking data showed.
The two LPG tankers sailed through the waters between Iran’s Larak and Qeshm islands – likely to make their identities clear to Iranian authorities before crossing the strait, ship tracking data showed.
Indian ships are stuck in the middle of war
The two ships were among 22 Indian-flagged vessels stranded in the Persian Gulf after the war in West Asia nearly closed the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway between Iran and Oman that connects the oil and gas-producing Gulf countries to the rest of the world.
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There were initially 28 Indian-flagged vessels in the Strait of Hormuz when the West Asia War broke out following the US-Israeli attacks on Iran. Of these, 24 were on the west side of the strait and four on the east side. In recent days, two vessels from each side managed to sail to safety.
Once Pine Gas and Jag Vasant make a successful voyage, the number of vessels on the west side will be reduced to 20, including 5 LPG carriers.
Which Indian carriers have made it to India so far?
Earlier, MT Shivalik and MT Nanda Devi, carrying about 92,712 tonnes of LPG, reached the Indian coast safely.
The LPG ship Shivalik reached Mundra in Gujarat on 16 March, while another LPG tanker, the Nanda Devi, reached Kandla port in Gujarat the following day. The two LPG carriers set off on 13 March and crossed the Strait of Hormuz early on 14 March.
The Indian-flagged oil tanker Jag Laadki, carrying 80,886 tonnes of crude oil from the UAE, arrived at Mundra on 18 March.
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Another tanker, the Jag Prakash, carrying petrol from Oman to Africa, had previously passed the strait safely and is on its way to Tanzania.
Of the 24 remaining Indian-flagged vessels in the war zone, 22 are on the western side of the strait with 611 sailors on board, while two are on the eastern side. Sinha said 11 sailors aboard those ships have since returned to India, bringing the number of sailors on board to 600.
