Parwinder Sandhu
New Delhi, April 15 (UNI) The Indian-flagged LPG carrier Jag Vikram has successfully reached Kandla Port in Gujarat after transiting the strategically sensitive Strait of Hormuz, delivering a cargo of 20,400 metric tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas, officials confirmed on Wednesday.
The vessel, owned by Great Eastern Shipping Company, crossed the Strait on April 11 and berthed late Tuesday night at Oil Jetty No. 1 in Kandla. Unloading operations are expected to commence shortly, providing a timely boost to the country’s LPG supply network.
The journey assumes particular significance as maritime movement through the Strait of Hormuz has been severely disrupted since late February, following escalating hostilities in West Asia.
The situation intensified after military action involving the United States and Israel against Iran, prompting retaliatory warnings and attacks by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on commercial shipping.
The narrow waterway, which normally handles nearly one-fifth of global oil flows, has since witnessed restricted traffic and heightened security risks.
Officials noted that Jag Vikram is the first Indian vessel to complete the passage after the recent ceasefire understanding between Washington and Tehran, marking a cautious revival of shipping activity along the crucial energy corridor. Its arrival is being viewed as both strategically and symbolically important for India’s energy security.
The ship carried 24 crew members and is among a limited number of Indian vessels that have managed to exit the Gulf region since early March. However, around 15 Indian-flagged ships are still awaiting clearance to sail through the Strait.
Authorities said the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways is working closely with the Ministry of External Affairs to facilitate the safe return of these vessels.
Additional Secretary Mukesh Mangal stated that efforts are ongoing to enable their movement as soon as conditions permit. He also confirmed that no incidents involving Indian ships have been reported in the past 24 hours.
Providing further reassurance, officials said more than 2,100 Indian seafarers have been repatriated so far, including 93 in the last day alone. Port operations across India continue to function normally, with no congestion reported.
On Tuesday, during the inter-ministerial briefing, the government had stated that commercial LPG supply in the country has been restored to nearly 70 per cent of pre-crisis levels, with the government putting in place a coordinated mechanism involving oil companies and state authorities to ensure equitable distribution amid the evolving situation in West Asia.
UNI PWS AAB