Two LPG tankers bound for India have successfully begun crossing the Strait of Hormuz using an unconventional route, even as several other Indian vessels remain stranded in the Gulf amid ongoing tensions linked to the US–Iran conflict. The movement marks a cautious but significant development in efforts to restore energy supply lines.
According to ship-tracking data reviewed by India Today’s OSINT team, the tankers Pine Gas and Jag Vasant navigated through the Qeshm–Larak channel instead of the usual direct route into the Arabian Sea. This longer and less commonly used path runs through Iranian territorial waters, indicating a controlled and possibly coordinated passage.
As the vessels began their transit, both altered their onboard identification signals, shifting from generic labels to more explicit ones highlighting their Indian origin. This change suggests that they may have received prior clearance from Iranian authorities and were deliberately broadcasting their identity to minimise the risk of being targeted during passage.
The two ships had been among six LPG tankers and one LNG carrier anchored near the Strait of Hormuz after the conflict escalated. While these two have now moved, the remaining vessels have shown limited activity, reflecting continued uncertainty and risk in the region.
Both tankers are carrying substantial LPG cargo. Jag Vasant, operated by Great Eastern Shipping and chartered by Bharat Petroleum Corporation, has a capacity of around 54,478 metric tonnes, while Pine Gas, operated by Seven Islands Shipping and chartered by Indian Oil Corporation, can carry approximately 58,585 metric tonnes. Their cargo volumes are comparable to earlier shipments that briefly met about one day of India’s LPG demand.
India has been engaging diplomatically with Iran to facilitate safe passage for its vessels, though officials have clarified that no blanket agreement exists and each transit is being handled individually. Iran has also indicated a willingness to coordinate safe passage for countries seeking it, suggesting a controlled system of maritime movement through the strait.
Despite these developments, risks remain. Reports تشير إلى potential threats from decentralised militant groups and the possibility of rogue actions by elements within the Iranian security structure. The use of this alternative route also signals that Tehran is closely regulating maritime traffic, potentially through monitored corridors and checkpoints.
As of Sunday, India had 22 vessels with over 600 seafarers stranded in the Persian Gulf, carrying large volumes of LPG, LNG, and crude oil. With the departure of Pine Gas and Jag Vasant, that number is expected to reduce slightly, but the broader situation continues to remain fluid.
The use of the Qeshm–Larak channel highlights how geopolitical tensions are reshaping global shipping patterns, with energy security increasingly dependent on negotiated access and controlled navigation through critical chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz.
