An India-bound LPG tanker has successfully cleared the strategically crucial Strait of Hormuz and is now en route to the country, according to an official statement released on Sunday.
The Marshall Islands-flagged vessel, MT Sarv Shakti, carrying 46,313 tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and crewed by 20 members—including 18 Indians—exited the chokepoint on May 2. It is expected to arrive at Visakhapatnam on May 13.
The shipment, which is sufficient to meet roughly half a day’s LPG demand in India, is expected to provide some relief amid supply pressures triggered by the ongoing West Asia conflict over the past two months.
According to ship-tracking data, the vessel was located in the Gulf of Oman on Sunday evening. The very large gas carrier, which regularly operates between the Persian Gulf and Indian ports, has been chartered by Indian Oil Corporation.
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Notably, MT Sarv Shakti is the first India-linked tanker to pass through the conflict-affected zone since a US blockade targeting ships linked to Iran began weeks ago, causing traffic through Hormuz to drop sharply.
Despite this movement, around 14 Indian-flagged or India-owned vessels remain stranded on the western side of the Strait. Authorities confirmed that no incidents involving Indian-flagged ships have been reported in the past 24 hours. The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways is coordinating closely with the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian missions abroad, and maritime stakeholders to ensure crew safety and continuity of operations.
The Directorate General of Shipping control room has handled 8,373 calls and over 17,965 emails since it was activated, including 38 calls and 127 emails in the last 24 hours alone.
India has also facilitated the return of more than 2,953 seafarers so far, including 31 in the past day from across the Gulf region. Meanwhile, port operations across the country remain normal, with no congestion reported, the statement added.
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