An LPG tanker named Shivalik has reached Gujarat’s Mundra Port after successfully navigating the conflict-affected Strait of Hormuz. The vessel was allowed to pass through the strategically important waterway after receiving transit clearance from Iranian authorities. Another Indian-flagged LPG carrier, Nanda Devi, which was granted similar permission, is expected to arrive at the port of Kandla on March 17 carrying a comparable cargo.
Both vessels are registered under the Indian flag and were transporting liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to India. According to officials, the ships were permitted to cross the Strait of Hormuz despite ongoing tensions in the region. One of the tankers, Shivalik, has already completed the journey and docked at Mundra Port in Gujarat, while the second vessel, Nanda Devi, is still en route and scheduled to reach Kandla a day later.
Earlier, Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Special Secretary in the Ministry of Shipping, had stated on Saturday that the two LPG carriers were expected to arrive in India on consecutive days. He confirmed that Shivalik was scheduled to reach Mundra on March 16 and that Nanda Devi was expected to arrive at Kandla on March 17.
Sinha also assured that all Indian seafarers currently operating in the Persian Gulf region remain safe and that no incidents involving them had been reported during the previous 24 hours. At the time, there were 24 Indian-flagged vessels located in the Persian Gulf, positioned west of the Strait of Hormuz. Among these ships were the LPG carriers Shivalik and Nanda Devi, which successfully crossed the Strait late at night or in the early hours of the morning and subsequently began their journey toward Indian ports.
He further explained that the two vessels together are carrying nearly 92,700 metric tonnes of LPG. The cargo is being transported to India’s western ports, with Shivalik delivering its shipment to Mundra and Nanda Devi heading toward Kandla. Following the passage of these two ships, a total of 22 Indian-flagged vessels remain in the Persian Gulf region, with approximately 611 Indian seafarers on board.
Earlier, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar had emphasized the importance of maintaining direct communication with Tehran to ensure the safe movement of ships through the Strait of Hormuz. India has been actively pursuing diplomatic engagement with Iran to safeguard its energy supplies at a time when tensions in the Middle East have increased. The Strait of Hormuz is considered one of the world’s most critical maritime routes, as it handles nearly 20 percent of global oil trade.
In an interview with the Financial Times UK, Jaishankar explained that India’s diplomatic outreach to Iran is aimed at helping reopen the crucial maritime corridor and ensuring uninterrupted energy shipments. He noted that discussions between the two sides have already begun to produce positive results and said that India believes constructive engagement and coordination with Tehran is a more effective approach than distancing itself from the issue.
Jaishankar also highlighted that the recent successful transit of the LPG tankers Shivalik and Nanda Devi reflects the progress achieved through this diplomatic effort. The vessels, carrying a combined cargo of roughly 92,712 metric tonnes of LPG, are currently delivering their shipments to the ports of Mundra and Kandla.
However, the External Affairs Minister clarified that there is currently no comprehensive or blanket arrangement that automatically allows all Indian-flagged vessels to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Instead, permissions for transit are being granted individually, with each vessel’s passage being handled on a case-by-case basis depending on circumstances.
Meanwhile, Abdul Majid Hakeem Ilahi, the representative of Iran’s Supreme Leader in India, reaffirmed that Indian ships would continue to receive permission to pass through the strategically important waterway despite the ongoing regional conflict. Speaking to the news agency ANI, Ilahi responded positively when asked whether Indian vessels would be allowed to cross the Strait of Hormuz.
When further questioned about the matter, he stated that he had learned that the Iranian embassy had attempted to facilitate opportunities for certain Indian ships to pass through the Strait, indicating continued cooperation between the two countries on the issue of maritime transit.
