An India-bound liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanker has successfully exited the strategically sensitive Strait of Hormuz and is now en route to the country, offering partial relief to ongoing supply constraints.
The Marshall Islands-flagged vessel MT Sarv Shakti, carrying 46,313 tonnes of LPG, cleared the key shipping corridor on May 2 and is expected to arrive at Visakhapatnam on May 13. The tanker has a crew of 20, including 18 Indian nationals.
The shipment—chartered by Indian Oil Corporation—is estimated to meet roughly half a day of India’s LPG demand, providing some respite amid disruptions caused by the ongoing West Asia conflict.
The vessel was located in the Gulf of Oman as of Sunday evening, according to ship-tracking data. Notably, Sarv Shakti is the first India-linked tanker to transit the conflict-hit zone since a US-led blockade targeting Iran-linked vessels significantly curtailed traffic through the Hormuz Strait.
Meanwhile, 14 Indian-flagged or India-owned vessels remain stranded west of the strait. Authorities confirmed that no incidents involving Indian ships were reported in the past 24 hours.
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, in coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs and maritime stakeholders, continues to monitor the situation to ensure crew safety and operational continuity.
Since activation, the Directorate General of Shipping’s control room has handled over 8,000 calls and nearly 18,000 emails. India has also repatriated more than 2,950 seafarers from the Gulf region, including 31 in the past day.
Officials added that port operations across India remain stable, with no congestion reported.