BENGALURU – Two major tankers carrying 94,000 metric tons of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) have successfully navigated the Strait of Hormuz and are currently en route to Indian ports, the government announced on Sunday.
the vessels, named BW Tyr and BW Elm, are transporting critical supplies of cooking gas. The BW Tyr is scheduled to docked in Mumbai on March 31, while the BW Elm is expected to arrive at New Mangalore on April 1.
Navigating a Global Chokepoint
The successful transit comes at a time of extreme tension, as the ongoing conflict involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran has nearly paralyzed shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. While the waterway is a vital global energy artery, Iran has stated that “non-hostile vessels” may still pass through if they coordinate with local authorities.
These tankers are the latest in a series of Indian-flagged ships to safely clear the chokepoint. According to ship-tracking data, four other LPG carriers have recently completed the crossing, though three others remain in the western section of the strait.
Securing India’s Energy Needs
The arrival of these shipments is vital for India, which is the world’s second-largest importer of LPG. The country relies on imports to meet roughly 60% of its cooking gas demand, with the vast majority of those supplies originating from the Middle East.
Government officials confirmed that there are currently 18 Indian-flagged vessels and 485 Indian seafarers still located in the western Gulf region. Despite the regional instability, the petroleum ministry reported that port operations across India are functioning normally with no signs of congestion.
