161 Indian sailors repatriated from Gulf region in last 24 hrs; LPG tanker Nanda Devi arrives at Kundla port

A second Indian-flagged LPG tanker arrived in the country early Tuesday after safely crossing the conflict-affected Strait of Hormuz amid a cooking gas shortage triggered by the Middle East conflict.

The tanker Nanda Devi docked at Kandla port in Gujarat at about 2:30 am, according to Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Special Secretary in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. A day earlier, the first vessel, Shivalik, had reached Mundra port in Gujarat.

India currently relies on imports for about 88% of its crude oil, 50% of its natural gas, and 60% of its LPG requirements.

Authorities also continue working to secure the passage of 22 other Indian vessels still stranded in the region. "In the last 24 hours, 161 Indian sailors have been repatriated and brought back to India after signing off in the Gulf region, Sinha said, according to ANI.

The two vessels together are transporting around 92,712 tonnes of LPG, roughly equal to the country’s one-day cooking gas requirement. Sinha mentioned all Indian seafarers operating in the Persian Gulf region are safe, and no incidents involving Indian ships were reported over the past 24 hours.

He added that the two LPG carriers began their voyage on Friday and successfully exited the Strait of Hormuz early on Saturday, raising the total number of Indian-flagged ships that have safely passed through the conflict-affected zone to four.

At present, 22 Indian-flagged vessels, carrying 611 crew members, remain in the western Gulf, while two ships remain on the eastern side.

Of the Indian-flagged ships still on the western side of the strait, six are LPG carriers, one is an LNG tanker, four are crude oil tankers, and one is transporting chemical cargo. In addition, there are three container vessels and two bulk carriers, along with one dredger, one empty vessel without cargo, and three ships undergoing routine maintenance in dry dock.

Among those in the east, the crude oil tanker Jag Laadki, which departed safely from the UAE’s Fujairah port despite an earlier attack on the terminal, is expected to arrive in India on Tuesday with around 80,800 tonnes of Murban crude. All 22 Indian crew members onboard are reported to be safe. Another tanker, Jag Prakash, carrying gasoline from Oman to Africa, has also crossed the strait without incident and is currently heading towards Tanzania.

The Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping) is reportedly closely tracking the situation in coordination with ship owners, agencies, and Indian missions abroad.

Sinha noted that India has around 3.18 lakh seafarers, with nearly 90 per cent working on foreign-flagged ships, reflecting their high level of expertise.

He added that to maintain smooth maritime operations, major Indian ports, including the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority, are providing concessions on anchorage charges, berth hire, storage facilities, and temporary transshipment arrangements.

The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow passage linking the Persian Gulf to open seas, has effectively been closed amid escalating hostilities after the US-Israel strikes on Iran and Tehran’s subsequent retaliation.

When the conflict began, there were 28 Indian-flagged ships in the area, 24 positioned west of the strait and four on the eastern side.

Officials said Indian authorities are maintaining continuous coordination with all concerned stakeholders in the region to ensure the safe movement of the remaining vessels.

Sonowal said, “Interacted with the brave crew of Indian-flagged LPG Carriers Shivalik and Nanda Devi, after reaching Indian shores. Operating through the Persian Gulf and the strategically significant Strait of Hormuz, their conduct underscores the importance of vigilance, coordination and responsibility in ensuring safe passage amid evolving global dynamics.”

Before the conflict erupted, more than half of India’s crude oil imports originated from countries such as Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and the UAE, all of which depend on the Strait of Hormuz as a key shipping route. Around 85–95% of LPG supplies and roughly 30% of gas imports also passed through the strait.

While disruptions in crude oil shipments have been partly mitigated by sourcing from alternative regions like Russia, West Africa, the United States, and Latin America, supplies of gas and LPG to industrial and commercial consumers have been reduced.

(With inputs from ANI)