Kamal Ghorui
Two liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tankers, BW Elm and BW Tyr, are currently transiting the Strait of Hormuz en route to India, according to ship-tracking data from LSEG and Kpler cited by Reuters, signalling a cautious resumption of movements through the strategic waterway. Shipping through the Strait has been severely disrupted amid the ongoing US-Israeli conflict with Iran. However, Tehran indicated earlier this week that “non-hostile vessels” could pass through the corridor if they coordinate with Iranian authorities. Data shows the two India-flagged vessels have already crossed the Gulf and are now in the eastern stretch of the Strait. Their movement comes as India steps up efforts to evacuate stranded LPG cargoes from the region. So far, four tankers—Shivalik, Nanda Devi, Pine Gas and Jag Vasant—have been moved out. Despite these efforts, several Indian vessels remain stuck. As of Friday, 20 Indian-flagged ships, including five LPG carriers, were still stranded in the Gulf, according to Rajesh Kumar Sinha, special secretary in the shipping ministry. Additional carriers such as Jag Vikram, Green Asha and Green Sanvi remain positioned in the western Strait of Hormuz, LSEG data shows. The disruption has raised concerns around India’s energy supplies. India consumed 33.15 million metric tonnes of LPG last year, with imports meeting around 60 per cent of demand. Nearly 90 per cent of these imports originate from the Middle East.
