Indian LPG Tanker Crosses Strait of Hormuz

On Saturday, the Indian government confirmed that the Green Sanvi, an Indian-flagged tanker, successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz, a vital passage for global oil and gas trade. This event is significant against the backdrop of escalating tensions in the region, as Iran has effectively halted maritime traffic in this waterway following the commencement of U.S. and Israeli strikes on February 28.

Despite these challenges, New Delhi, which is the second-largest buyer of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in the world, has managed to secure passage for several Indian vessels over the past three weeks. The Ministry of Shipping of India confirmed that the tanker Green Sanvi passed through this strategic chokepoint.

In a statement, the ministry noted, "Green Sanvi successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz, carrying 46,650 tons of LPG with 25 crew members on board," although no further details were provided regarding its final destination.

According to reports, 17 Indian-flagged vessels with a total of 460 crew members "remain in the western part of the Persian Gulf." Data from the Marine Traffic website corroborated that Green Sanvi is indeed an Indian-flagged tanker.

The state broadcaster All India Radio reported that this was the "seventh LPG tanker heading to India" to cross the Strait of Hormuz since the onset of the conflict in the Middle East. This indicates that India continues to meet its energy needs despite the increasing risks in the region.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas of India also confirmed that Indian refiners are purchasing oil from Iran and other countries to cope with the global energy crisis. "In light of supply disruptions from the Middle East, Indian refiners have secured their oil needs, including from Iran," the statement on platform X added, emphasizing that "there are no obstacles to payments for the import of Iranian oil."

This development comes approximately two weeks after the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced a temporary lifting of sanctions on Iranian oil that had already been loaded onto vessels. The ministry also confirmed that an LPG vessel carrying about "44,000 tons of Iranian LPG" has docked and "is currently being unloaded" at the southwestern Indian port of Mangalore.

India imports about 60 percent of its LPG needs and faces challenges in this area as global energy markets remain unstable due to conflicts and political crises in various regions around the world.