Around 3 lakh tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) loaded on six Indian-flagged vessels remain stranded near the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing tensions in West Asia, the shipping ministry said on Tuesday.
Providing an update, Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Special Secretary in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, noted that each very large gas carrier (VLGC) typically transports about 45,000 tonnes of LPG. “The loaded Indian-flagged LPG carriers in the West of Hormuz together account for roughly three lakh tonnes,” he said, adding that movement of the vessels will depend on the evolving situation.
In a partial relief, the LPG carrier Nanda Devi, carrying 46,500 tonnes, reached the Vadinar facility of Kandla Port early Tuesday. Unloading operations are currently underway.
According to officials, a total of 22 Indian vessels are currently positioned in the western Gulf region, including:
One LNG tanker
Four crude oil carriers
One chemical/products tanker
Three container vessels
Two bulk carriers
Authorities confirmed that cargo discharge from LPG carriers Shivalik and Nanda Devi is in progress. In the case of Nanda Devi, unloading is being carried out through a ship-to-ship transfer, with discharge rates estimated at 800–900 tonnes per hour.
Sushil Kumar Singh, Chairman of Kandla Port, who visited the vessel, said the crew members are safe and operations are proceeding smoothly.
Meanwhile, Indian ports have stepped up preparedness to manage potential disruptions. All major ports are closely tracking vessel movements and offering logistical support, including additional storage space. Notably, VO Chidambaranar Port has earmarked 90,000 square metres for handling transshipment containers.
On the container front, congestion at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority is gradually easing. The number of perishable containers has reduced from around 2,000 to 1,000, aided by cargo returning to the domestic market and diversion of vessels to regional hubs such as Salalah and Khor Fakkan.
Officials expect the number of stranded containers to further decline to about 600 within the next 24–48 hours, indicating gradual normalization of port operations despite ongoing geopolitical uncertainties.
