New Delhi [India], March 29 (ANI): The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on Sunday, citing the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, said that two LPG carriers—BW TYR and BW ELM—carrying a combined cargo of about 94,000 metric tons have safely transited and are heading toward Indian shores.
According to an official statement, BW TYR is proceeding toward Mumbai with an expected arrival on March 31, while BW ELM is en route to New Mangalore with an estimated arrival date of April 1.
The ministry emphasized that necessary measures have been put in place to ensure the safety and security of Indian vessels and seafarers operating in the region. It added that all Indian seafarers in the area are safe, and no incidents involving Indian-flagged vessels have been reported in the past 24 hours.
A total of 18 Indian-flagged vessels with 485 Indian seafarers remain in the western Persian Gulf region. The Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping), in coordination with shipowners, RPSL agencies, and Indian missions, is actively monitoring the situation.
According to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, the DG Shipping control room remains operational 24/7 and has handled 4,523 calls and 8,985 emails since its activation. In the past 24 hours alone, 92 calls and 120 emails have been received.
The DG Shipping has also facilitated the safe repatriation of more than 942 Indian seafarers so far, including four in the past 24 hours.
This development follows the arrival of a shipment of 47,000 metric tons of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) at the Vadinar Terminal of DPA Kandla in Jamnagar, Gujarat, on Saturday. The vessel, MT Jag Vasant, is set to transfer its cargo to another ship at anchorage through a ship-to-ship operation.
Indian Navy warships are on standby to provide support to merchant vessels, sources said.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints, handling a significant portion of global oil shipments, making its security essential for international trade and economic stability amid the ongoing conflict in the region following US-Israel joint military strikes on Iran on February 28.
Earlier, during a joint inter-ministerial briefing, Special Secretary in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Rajesh Kumar Sinha said authorities are closely monitoring the situation and maintaining coordination with various stakeholders.
On Friday, India reiterated its urgent call for the preservation of safe and uninterrupted maritime transit through the Strait of Hormuz, emphasizing that international law must be upheld amid the deteriorating security situation in West Asia. The government said it is maintaining a vigilant watch over regional developments to protect national energy interests.
During the weekly media briefing, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said New Delhi is actively coordinating with global partners to ensure stability.
“We are closely following all developments in West Asia. We continue to call for ensuring safe and free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz as a matter of priority,” Jaiswal said. (ANI)
About The Author
