Amid the ongoing West Asia conflict and severe energy supply pressures, two Indian-flagged Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) vessels, MT Jag Vasant and MT Pine Gas, successfully transited the war-hit Strait of Hormuz to reach Indian shores on March 28, 2026.
Key Delivery Details
The arrival of these vessels provides a critical lifeline to India’s cooking gas reserves, which have been strained by the maritime blockade.
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MT Jag Vasant: Arrived at the Vadinar Terminal (Jamnagar, Gujarat) carrying 47,000 metric tonnes of LPG. The vessel is currently engaged in a ship-to-ship (STS) transfer at anchorage to expedite distribution.
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MT Pine Gas: Carrying approximately 45,000 metric tonnes, this vessel is destined for New Mangalore Port to replenish supplies in Southern India.
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Total Volume: Together, these ships have brought in over 92,000 metric tonnes, roughly equivalent to a full day’s domestic consumption for the entire country.
Security and Naval Support
The transit was executed under high-security protocols due to the “toll booth” regime and military activity in the Strait.
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Identity Verification: Both tankers sailed close to Iran’s Larak and Qeshm islands to clarify their identity to Iranian authorities before crossing.
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Indian Navy Role: Navy warships remained on standby in the Gulf of Oman to provide immediate escort and support if the merchant vessels faced aggression.
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Safe Passage: Ministry officials confirmed that all 540+ Indian seafarers currently on the 20 remaining Indian-flagged ships in the Persian Gulf are safe.
Impact on the Domestic Crisis
While these arrivals are a major breakthrough, the government continues to urge caution:
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Allocation Increase: To support industries like steel and textiles, the government has increased commercial LPG allocations to 70% of pre-war levels.
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Panic Booking: Officials have reiterated that there are no “dry-outs” (total stockouts) at retail outlets and have urged citizens to avoid panic booking, which is currently at an “excessively high” level.
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The Shift to PNG: The Ministry of Petroleum continues to push for a permanent transition to Piped Natural Gas (PNG) for households in areas with existing infrastructure to reduce long-term dependency on the volatile Hormuz route.
| Vessel Name | Cargo (Metric Tonnes) | Destination | Status |
| MT Jag Vasant | 47,000 MT | Vadinar, Gujarat | Arrived (STS Transfer) |
| MT Pine Gas | 45,000 MT | New Mangalore | En Route/Arriving |
| MT Shivalik | 46,000 MT | Mundra, Gujarat | Delivered (March 16) |
| MT Nanda Devi | 46,500 MT | Kandla, Gujarat | Delivered (March 17) |
