India’s second LPG carrier Nanda Devi safely reached Vadinar Port in Gujarat on Tuesday carrying 46,500 metric tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas after passing through the Strait of Hormuz amid tensions in West Asia, officials said. A day earlier, another LPG vessel, Shivalik, had arrived at Mundra Port in Gujarat. According to Deendayal Port Authority Chairman Sushil Kumar Singh, Nanda Devi docked at Vadinar in Devbhumi Dwarka district. Arrangements are being made to transfer the LPG cargo to another vessel, BW Birch, which will later transport portions of the shipment to Ennore in Tamil Nadu and Haldia in West Bengal.

Singh said the transfer operation is carried out at a speed of around 1,000 tonnes per hour and is expected to take nearly two days to complete. He added that the Vadinar port authorities have been directed by the Ministry of Ports to conduct the process efficiently. While such ship to ship transfers are a routine operation at the port, the ministry has instructed that LPG vessels must be given the highest priority so that unloading and distribution can be completed quickly.

Multiple agencies are closely monitoring the operation. Officials have already visited the vessel and interacted with the crew, and the receiving ship is currently on its way to berth alongside Nanda Devi before the transfer begins. Singh also noted that the ministry has issued clear instructions that all upcoming LPG vessels should be handled on priority while strictly following safety procedures and avoiding any operational delays.

Gujarat minister Jitu Vaghani stated on Monday that the LPG carrier Shivalik was able to reach Mundra safely from the Strait of Hormuz despite regional tensions, crediting India’s strong diplomatic ties under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The ship successfully navigated the Strait of Hormuz despite heightened tensions involving Iran, Israel and other nations, he said during a session of the state assembly.

India depends heavily on imports for its energy needs, sourcing about 88 percent of its crude oil, 50 percent of its natural gas and nearly 60 percent of its LPG from abroad. Before the escalation of conflict following US Israel strikes on Iran on February 28 and Tehran’s retaliation, a significant portion of these imports came from Middle Eastern countries including Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

The conflict has resulted in a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for energy shipments from the Gulf. India has partly compensated for crude oil supply disruptions by importing from countries such as Russia, but natural gas supplies to industries have been reduced and LPG availability for commercial users like hotels and restaurants has been limited. Officials also said that 22 Indian flagged vessels with 611 seafarers are currently in the western Persian Gulf, and efforts are underway to ensure their safe passage.