New Delhi, April 4
Another India-flagged liquefied petroleum gas tanker, Green Sanvi, transited east of the Strait of Hormuz, according to ship tracking data, making it the seventh Indian vessel to clear the maritime chokepoint safely amid the West Asia conflict.
The vessel used a designated corridor through Iran's territorial waters to navigate the strategically sensitive waterway.
The tanker is estimated to be carrying around 44,000 tonnes of LPG, roughly equivalent to half a day's LPG consumption in India before the ongoing West Asia conflict. Industry experts say that two more India-flagged LPG tankers --Green Asha and Jag Vikram -- are expected to cross the Strait and head to India in the coming days.
Green Sanvi is the seventh India-flagged merchant vessel to transit the Strait of Hormuz since the onset of the West Asia war, and all seven vessels have been LPG tankers. With its passage, there are now 17 India-flagged ships in the Persian Gulf region, east of the Strait. These include three additional LPG tankers, four crude oil tankers, one liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker, one chemical products tanker, three container ships, two bulk carriers, and two vessels undergoing routine maintenance, according to shipping records.
India has been actively engaging with Iran at the diplomatic level to ensure the safe passage of its merchant vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran, which has largely restricted vessel movements amid the ongoing West Asia war, clarified last week that non-hostile vessels linked to countries other than the US, Israel, and their allies can transit the strait in coordination with Iranian authorities.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed that the waterway remains operational for nations considered friendly, with vessels from China, Russia, India, Iraq, and Pakistan having been allowed to move through the chokepoint.
During its transit, Green Sanvi was signalling its Indian identity and that of its seafarers on board, a practice that has become standard for vessels coordinating with Iranian authorities.
The Strait of Hormuz, which connects the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea, remains a critical maritime chokepoint for global energy flows, and ensuring safe navigation for commercial ships has become increasingly vital amid geopolitical tensions.
The successful passage of Green Sanvi highlights India's efforts to secure energy supply lines despite ongoing disruptions in the region and underscores the importance of coordinated diplomacy and maritime safety measures in maintaining uninterrupted trade flows.
- IANS
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