The Liquefied Petroleum Gas tanker Shivalik, which recently crossed the Strait of Hormuz, is expected to arrive at Mundra Port in Gujarat on Monday. Two Indian flagged LPG carriers were allowed to pass through the Strait by Iranian authorities. The vessels are Shivalik and Nanda Devi. Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Special Secretary in the Shipping Ministry, stated on Saturday that the two ships are expected to reach India on March 16 and March 17. He said that all Indian seafarers in the Persian Gulf region remain safe and no incidents involving them were reported in the last twenty four hours.

According to him, there were twenty four Indian flagged vessels located west of the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf. Among them, Shivalik and Nanda Devi successfully crossed the Strait late at night and early in the morning and are now heading toward India. The two vessels are transporting about ninety two thousand seven hundred metric tons of LPG and are scheduled to arrive at Mundra and Kandla ports on March 16 and March 17 respectively. After their transit, twenty two Indian flagged vessels carrying a total of six hundred eleven seafarers remain in the Persian Gulf.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar emphasized the importance of direct dialogue with Iran to restore maritime movement through the Strait of Hormuz as India works to secure its energy supplies during rising tensions in the Middle East. In an interview with the Financial Times UK, Jaishankar said that India is currently in discussions with Iran to help reopen the crucial waterway, which accounts for nearly twenty percent of global oil trade. He mentioned that the talks have already shown positive progress and stressed that cooperation and coordination with Tehran are more effective than disengagement.

Jaishankar also pointed to the successful transit of Shivalik and Nanda Devi as an example of the results of this diplomatic approach. The tankers, carrying about ninety two thousand seven hundred twelve metric tonnes of LPG, are now on their way to the Indian ports of Mundra and Kandla. He clarified that there is no general arrangement yet for all Indian flagged vessels to pass through the Strait. Currently, each ship is being allowed transit on a case by case basis.

Abdul Majid Hakeem Ilahi, the representative of Iran Supreme Leader in India, confirmed that Indian vessels would be permitted to cross the strategically important Strait of Hormuz despite the ongoing conflict in West Asia. In an interview, Ilahi said that Indian ships would be allowed to pass and added that the Iranian embassy has been working to help facilitate the passage of some Indian vessels through the Strait.