NEW DELHI: The India-bound LPG supertanker Sarv Shakti successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday and is expected to arrive at Visakhapatnam on May 13, according to officials. This crossing marks a significant development for India's energy supply and crew safety, as the last India-bound ship to cross the conflict-hit channel was the oil tanker Desh Garima on April 18, after Iran announced free passage for a short period.
Details of the Vessel and Cargo
The Marshall Islands-flagged LPG carrier is carrying 46,313 tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and has a crew of 20 members, including 18 Indians. The cargo has been chartered by a state-run oil public sector undertaking.
Significance of the Passage
The safe passage of Sarv Shakti signals that more India-bound ships, both Indian- and foreign-flagged, may be able to cross the Strait of Hormuz, bringing relief on both energy supply and crew safety fronts. This crossing is particularly notable because two Indian ships came under Iranian fire on the day Desh Garima crossed the channel, forcing them and other vessels to return to the Persian Gulf.
Route and Tracking
Tracking data from Marine Traffic shows that the LPG tanker sailed close to Iran's Larak and Qeshm islands in the direction of the Gulf of Oman on Saturday. Tehran has prescribed this specific route for transiting the chokepoint. According to news agency Bloomberg, the vessel entered the Persian Gulf in early February and received its cargo via a ship-to-ship transfer off Dubai.
Context of Indian Energy Ship Movements
Since March, ten Indian-flagged energy ships, including nine LPG tankers and one crude oil carrier, have crossed the Strait of Hormuz. Additionally, several foreign-flagged energy tankers have arrived at Indian ports from the Persian Gulf. Currently, there are 13 Indian-flagged and one Indian-owned ship in the Persian Gulf. Last week, the shipping ministry shared with the external affairs ministry a list of 41 India-bound "priority vessels" that needed to be evacuated.
