US-Israel-Iran Conflict: Two Indian ships transporting LPG safely cross Strait of Hormuz; what Ministry of Shipping told?
Two Indian vessels transporting LPG from Gulf nations have safely transited the Strait of Hormuz. Iran had granted permission for these ships to pass a day earlier, and they are now proceeding toward India's western coast.
According to Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Special Secretary at the Ministry of Shipping and Waterways, the Indian-flagged LPG carriers Shivalik and Nanda Devi crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday. Together, the two vessels are bringing a total of 92,700 tons of LPG to India.
Rajesh Kumar Sinha stated during a press conference, "All Indian seafarers in the Persian Gulf region are safe, and no adverse incidents involving them have occurred over the past 24 hours. There were 24 Indian-flagged vessels present in the Persian Gulf within the Strait of Hormuz."
He further informed, "Of these, two vessels—Shivalik and Nanda Devi—transited the Strait of Hormuz Saturday morning and are now en route to India."
Sinha added, "These vessels are scheduled to arrive at the ports of Mundra and Kandla. They are expected to reach Mundra on March 16 and Kandla on March 17."
He said, "These two vessels were among a group of 24 ships that had become stranded in the western sector of the Strait of Hormuz following the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East. Consequently, there are now 22 Indian-flagged vessels remaining in the Persian Gulf, carrying a total of 611 seafarers. We are continuously monitoring their situation."
Earlier, on Friday, Iran's Ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, had stated that Iran had granted permission for several Indian vessels to transit through this waterway, although he did not specify the exact total number of ships that had been authorized to pass.