A Liberian vessel carrying over 135,000 metric tons of Saudi oil docked in Mumbai – the first India-bound tanker to complete the journey since the start of the US-Iran war on February 28, according to a Hindustan Timommes report.
The first crude tanker arrived in Mumbai since the start of the Iran war
The most significant development, first reported by the Hindustan Times, involves a Liberian-flagged ship that has now docked at Mumbai port – the first Indian-bound tanker to complete passage through the strait since hostilities broke out.
The Shenlong, a Suezmax-class tanker, loaded oil at the Saudi port of Ras Tanura on March 1 and departed two days later. Its last recorded position in the strait was on March 8, according to maritime intelligence firms Lloyd’s List Intelligence and TankerTrackers, before it went dark – turning off its transponders and automatic identification system to avoid detection while sailing in contested waters. It reappeared in the tracking databases on March 9.
The vessel arrived at the Mumbai port at 1 pm on Wednesday and docked in the early evening.
“The Shenlong is carrying 1,35,335 metric tonnes of crude oil. It is anchored at Jawahar Dweep and has started unloading its crude cargo,” Praveen Singh, deputy conservator of the Mumbai Port Authority, told Hindustan Times. The cargo is destined for refineries at Mahul in East Mumbai.
“There are 29 Indian, Pakistani and Filipino crew members on board, while the ship’s captain is Sukshant Singh Sandhu. The ship will take nearly 36 hours to unload the cargo,” HT quoted Jitendra Jadhav of Atlantic Global Shipping, which handles the Shenlong operations in Mumbai.
The tanker is owned by Shenlong Shipping Ltd and managed by Athens-based Dynacom Tanker Management Ltd, the HT report added.
Dozens of Indian vessels are still stuck in the Strait of Hormuz
Despite Shenlong’s safe arrival, the bigger picture of Indian shipping remains uncertain. According to India’s Directorate General of Shipping, 28 Indian-flagged vessels remain in or near the strait.
In recent days, seven – Desh Mahima, Desh Abhiman, Swarna Kamal, Vishva Prerna, Jag Viraat, Jag Lokesh and LNGC Aseem have moved to the relative safety of the Arabian Sea, while Jag Lakshya is proceeding towards Angola. Hindustan Times.
Many vessels have resorted to deactivating AIS transponders or adopting Chinese vessel identities amid widespread signal spoofing and jamming in the region, the HT report added.
An attack on an India-bound vessel raises the alarm
Even as diplomatic channels showed signs of progress, a Thai-flagged bulk carrier bound for India came under attack in the strait, setting part of the vessel on fire and triggering an emergency rescue operation.
The Mayuree Naree, a 178-meter vessel owned by Bangkok-listed Precious Shipping Pcl, had left Khalifa Port in the United Arab Emirates and was heading to Kandla, Gujarat, when it was hit by an unidentified projectile.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs strongly condemned. “India deplores the fact that merchant shipping is becoming the target of military attacks in the ongoing conflict in West Asia,” the ministry said, adding that “the intensity and lethality of attacks appear to be increasing.”
