Mumbai, March 17: The Indian ship ‘Nanda Devi’, carrying LPG from Qatar, is expected to arrive at Kandla Port in Gujarat today after passing through the Hormuz Strait. This follows the arrival of another vessel, ‘Shivalik’, which reached Mundra Port yesterday with approximately 45,000 to 46,000 tons of LPG. The safe arrival of these ships is anticipated to alleviate concerns regarding fuel transportation through this sensitive maritime route.
Earlier, Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Special Secretary of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, stated during an inter-ministerial briefing that the tanker successfully entered open seas after crossing the Hormuz Strait. He noted that both Indian LPG vessels, ‘Shivalik’ and ‘Nanda Devi’, are bringing in a total of around 92,700 metric tons of LPG to India. Both ships are owned by the state-run Shipping Corporation of India. Sinha also confirmed that all Indian sailors operating in the Gulf region are safe, with no reports of any unpleasant incidents.
According to government data, 22 Indian ships with a total of 611 sailors were present west of the Hormuz Strait in the Gulf region. While ‘Nanda Devi’ is set to dock at Kandla Port, another ship, ‘Jag Ladki’, carrying approximately 81,000 tons of crude oil from the United Arab Emirates, has already departed for Mundra Port. All crew members aboard these ships are reported to be safe.
It is noteworthy that the Hormuz Strait is one of the world’s most crucial maritime routes, through which nearly 20 percent of global oil and gas exports pass. Due to ongoing tensions in the region, authorities are closely monitoring ship movements and ensuring the safety of Indian vessels and their crews operating in the area.
The ministry had previously mentioned in a briefing that major ports across the country are closely monitoring ship movements and cargo operations, providing support to shipping lines and stakeholders, including concessions on anchorage, freight, and storage charges.